The Life and Form of Tony Tascona
Born in Saint Boniface, Canada, Tony Tascona was a painter and artist of Italian heritage. After leaving school to work as a truck driver, he eventually enrolled in the Winnipeg School of Art, where he was introduced to the theories of abstraction. His formal education continued at the University of Manitoba School of Art, exposing him to modernist movements such as Vorticism. In 1953, he began working as a technician for Trans-Canada Airlines, a role that allowed him to develop a fascination with industrial materials, including aluminum, high-grade paints, lacquers, and enamels.
Tascona's technical expertise from the aircraft industry informed his mature work in geometric abstraction. He became interested in the use of car paint and industrial supplies, eventually moving to Montreal in 1961. His practice evolved into the creation of large format constructions, often built from incised metal sheets. These works, which possess a sculptural, frieze-like quality, utilized materials such as aluminum, steel, resin, and industrial paints. In 1996, he was appointed to the Order of Canada.
