Take a Peek at Tony Bennett’s Paintings

He's celebrating his 90th birthday with Marina Abramovic and Jeff Koons.

Tony Bennett with his artwork. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett is best known for his musical career, but the octogenarian singer (like a growing number of public figures) is also an accomplished painter. As the crooner prepares to turn 90 this August, he’ll be kicking off the celebration early with an eclectic group of famous artists, including Marina Abramović, Dale Chihuly, and Jeff Koons, at Keep Memory Alive’s 20th annual Power of Love gala.

The milestone birthday party, which doubles as a philanthropic event featuring a silent art auction, will be held in Las Vegas on May 21, and will benefit the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.

The singer-cum-artist signs his work “Benedetto,” his birth surname, and works primarily in oil and watercolor. Among his numerous accomplishments as a painter, Bennett has no less than three works in the Smithsonian collection, and created a commissioned artwork commemorating the United Nations’ 50th anniversary in 2001.

Tony Bennett <em>Fontinella Beach</em>. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett Fontinella Beach. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Celebrity chefs Wolfgang Puck, Mario Carbone, and Nobu Matsuhisa will prepare the evening’s menu. Curator, creative director, and writer Neville Wakefield, as well as artists Jonathan Horowitz and Rob Pruitt will also be among the bold-faced names in attendance.

The silent auction  include Chihuly’s Round About Red, a limited-edition lithograph print inspired by the artist’s large blown glass spheres, and a special piece created in Bennett’s honor by New York artist Peter Tunney.

Tony Bennett <em>Dayl Crow</em>. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett Dayl Crow. Courtesy of Benedetto.

In The Good Life, an original painting celebrating Bennett’s upcoming birthday, Tunney incorporates all of the singer’s albums covers dating back to the the 1950s. The painting’s buyer also gets Bennett’s complete discography on vinyl, plus a record player, affording the purchaser the unique opportunity to “listen to his painting.”

To mark the occasion, artnet News has rounded up a selection of the singer’s paintings below.

Tony Bennett Boy on Sailboat. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett Boy on Sailboat. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett <em>Tuscany</em>. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett Tuscany. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett <em>Dizzy Gillspie</em>. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett Dizzy Gillspie. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett <em>Mickey Rooney</em>. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett Mickey Rooney. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett <em>Susan in the Garden</em>. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett Susan in the Garden. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett <em>Duke Ellington God Is</em>. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett Duke Ellington God Is. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett <em>Venezuela</em>. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett Venezuela. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett <em>Sunday In Central Park</em>. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett Sunday In Central Park. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett Central Park. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett Central Park. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett Ella Fitzgerald. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett Ella Fitzgerald. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett Evening In Venice. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett Evening In Venice. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett Sax Player. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett Sax Player. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett Happy Holidays. Courtesy of Benedetto.

Tony Bennett Happy Holidays. Courtesy of Benedetto.


Follow Artnet News on Facebook:


Want to stay ahead of the art world? Subscribe to our newsletter to get the breaking news, eye-opening interviews, and incisive critical takes that drive the conversation forward.
Article topics