BLUE HEAVEN: 

Romance & Motoring 

TONY MALONE 

OCTOBER 10-19 

2024

The words “Blue Heaven” immediately conjure a multitude of Milk Bar milkshake memories for many amongst us – Milk Bars being the theme of Tony Malone’s previous exhibition at 484 – but for this show, Tony’s “Blue Heaven” is a fusion of Romance and Motoring – recurring themes in the Malone oeuvre.

Tony, an unabashed connoisseur of popular culture has long admired consequential moments, not only in automobile design perse, but also the accompanying details of motoring accoutrements and assorted attendant promotional paraphernalia.

Automotive products, insignias and logos are lovingly recollected in duco like enamels, whilst the gentle pencil, a much underrated medium, is used with dexterity, patience and a very steady hand, for many of the Romantic pieces.

Whether romance or motoring, or as is sometimes the case, a combination of the two, Tony has produced (often with a dry humour) sophisticated images, playfully exploring the rumbling emotional, thought-bubbled undercurrents of 1960s illustrated romance novels whilst also allowing us to take a second glance at the far too often overlooked details of 20th Century automobile design.