By GINNY VAN ALYEA

Over the years, CGN has covered many chapters of artist and Chicagoan Tony Fitzpatrick’s life and work.

Following his death in October 2025, his wife, Michelle, and children, Max and Gaby, have been working to preserve Fitzpatrick's legacy. One of their efforts offers an accessible way to bring an early Fitzpatrick image home—and support the work his family is carrying forward. The family is issuing a limited-edition poster featuring Houdini, an image Fitzpatrick originally created for the inaugural exhibition at World Tattoo Gallery in 1989. Priced at $100, the edition is limited to 500 prints, each accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. All proceeds support projects dedicated to preserving and protecting his life’s work.

The image comes from a formative period. Fitzpatrick left Chicago for New York in 1987 to pursue his career as an artist. When he returned, he wanted to build the kind of rebellious, vibrant artistic community he had encountered there. With help from friends, he opened World Tattoo Gallery in the South Loop in 1989.

According to Tony's family, Houdini held particular significance for Fitzpatrick during those years: an escape artist who could accomplish the seemingly impossible. His appearance on the gallery’s first exhibition poster connects the image to Fitzpatrick’s ambitions for both his own work and a community of artists in Chicago.

For longtime followers and those just discovering his art, the release offers a connection to that early chapter while helping his family care for what comes next.

In 1988, Tony left Chicago to find a career as an artist in NY. In NY he experienced something he often described as “unimagined possibilities” of creativity, supported by a rebellious art

community. When he returned to Chicago in 1989, he was determined to create the “art community” he experienced in NY. In 1989 and with the help of several friends, he opened The World Tattoo Gallery in the crumbling area of the South Loop. The space was a 6000 square foot loft at the corner of 13th and Wabash dedicated to emerging visual artists and performance art.

Among the many heroes Tony idealized in his work, Houdini was the most relevant to him during this period of his career. Houdini represented “escape” and a man who would achieve

the impossible challenge.

The legendary Friday night openings at World Tattoo would see an average of a 1000 people attending. The gallery was described by many as a phenomenon and a testimony to Tony’s

boundless energy and dedication his city, Chicago.

He created this poster to honor the grand opening of World Tattoo Gallery. “Houdini” is a limited edition of 500 prints and will come with a certificate of authenticity.

The World Tattoo Poster measures 12.5 × 18 inches and is available for $100 at tonyfitzpatrick.co.