We can only imagine that as a child, Andrew Tedesco must have often found himself in trouble for scribbling on the floors, the walls, the ceiling. Thankfully, Tedesco never grew out of that phase, instead blossoming into a masterful muralist whose mandate is to leave no surface untouched. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Michelangelo, Tiepolo, and Leonardo da Vinci, Tedesco has been creating custom hand-painted murals for over twenty years.
Tedesco launched his career as a muralist in 1991, specializing in gilding, venetian plasters, and optical illusions. Tedesco’s style hews most closely to Realism, but his body of work is remarkably diverse, with pieces spanning not only genres but also the commercial and artistic realms. Over the course of his career, Tedesco has illustrated a Roman mythological story across a 38-foot barrel vaulted ceiling, depicted the life of Cornelius Vanderbilt in the Ioggia entrance hall of a hotel, and painted sports team logos on the paneled wood ceiling of a superfan’s den. He is based in New York City but has travelled as far as Egypt for a commission. Whether he’s making a four car garage look like a spaceship, or a hotel ceiling look like a 17th century fresco, you dream it, Tedesco can paint it.
You can check out their latest projects on Creatively here.
What is the first creative project you remember?
There is a picture on my website of me painting a diorama in kindergarten at a farm school outside of Detroit, MI. Inside the school’s geodesic dome there were supplies to create anything you could imagine with no rubrics. I still have my wood block print of sharks, still my greatest fear. The free form style of the school allowed my artistic freedom to grow unabashedly.
Describe your aesthetic in three words.
Pretty, pleasing and always personal.
What was the most fulfilling collaboration you’ve worked on?
I have had the chance to work with well-known interior designers, architects and
famous clients but my best collaboration has just taken place: my 24 year-old daughter joined me during the pandemic when my regular assistants could not come in. She had gone to art high school in California and I knew she was talented but had no idea how great our partnership would be. There is a synergy between us that has produced some of my best work in the last 30 years. I have had many talented assistants come through the studio but no one has the design sense of Abbey.
What’s one creative project that taught you something fundamental about yourself?
I was contacted by Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas early in my career. When I arrived to meet with them, they showed me a 60-foot dome. I had never painted anything near this scale or scope. When the president of the casino asked if this was something I could do, I immediately said yes and just about fainted. After accomplishing this feat, I gained the confidence to take on any project presented to me without hesitation.
Do you think creativity is something you’re born with, or something you’re taught?
I am the fourth generation in my family to make a living as an artist so yes, I absolutely believe it is a gift. After teaching art on Mondays at the New York School of Interior Design in Manhattan for five years, I could see that some people innately get it, while others, I’m not sure they could master painting if they spent a lifetime practicing.
What’s the last dream you had?
Hah. Honestly, it was about lacrosse. My two younger daughters are in the middle
of their high school season and the older one just scored the winning goal in double overtime. Obviously my competitive nature is still present even while I am sleeping.
One hundred years from now, what do you hope people write about your work?
“Looking back to move forward.” I hope they’ll say that I paid homage to the great artists that came before me: Leonardo and Michelangelo, Tiepolo and Rust, Fairey and Banksy, but that I carved my own niche.
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