Antonio “Tony” Petracca, a thoughtful artist, curator, and cultural leader, passed away on April 17, 2025, at the age of seventy-nine. Born in Rochester and raised in Rochester’s Northeast neighborhood, his dynamic spirit and unwavering commitment to the arts left an indelible mark on the communities he touched in Rochester and New York City.

A Force in Rochester’s Artist Space Era

In 1977, Tony co-founded and became the first director of the Pyramid Arts Center in Rochester, providing a platform for emerging artists and fostering the growing artistic community. Starting out as a scrappy stronghold for counterculture, Pyramid evolved into a key player in New York State’s 'alternative space' movement of the 1980s and ’90s. It eventually became the Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo), where Tony remained a vital supporter throughout his life and participated in numerous exhibitions. During his time at Pyramid Tony was an outspoken advocate for artists and a trusted friend and mentor to many creatives. His vision and energy contributed to the evolution of Rochester’s visual and performance art landscape, and helped establish its place in the broader cultural conversation.

A Life in Art, Rooted in Heritage

Tony’s art was a vibrant, ever-evolving reflection of his identity. Working across media—photography, mixed media, painting, and Pop-inflected abstraction—he explored themes of immigration, memory, history, and identity. A proud Italian American, Tony often focused on the complexities and nuances of Italian American heritage. His celebrated “Mezzogiorno” series, for example, examined the history and stereotypes associated with Southern Italy and its diaspora, blending cultural critique with visual poetry.

"Art is a place for me to question, challenge, and explore identity. It’s about digging into the complexities of culture and heritage—sometimes celebrating, sometimes confronting." — Antonio Petracca

Tony’s exhibitions spanned decades and included shows at Kim Foster Gallery in New York City, where he developed an international reputation for work that was simultaneously personal and political, timely and timeless.

Creativity Through Adversity

In 2020, Tony sustained an injury that left him in a wheelchair. He refused to let this end his artistic output, instead turning his lens outward, photographing the rhythms of his Battery Park City neighborhood in Lower Manhattan. His post-injury images continued to express his deep love of architecture, light, and the quietly human moments that animate urban life. These photographs, intimate yet grand, served as a reminder of his resilience, his sense of humor, and his unceasing curiosity.

A Creative Partnership

Tony shared both his personal and much of his professional life with his beloved spouse, Kim Foster. Tony was a significant part of the Kim Foster Gallery, which she operated for over two decades, exhibiting a broad range of contemporary artists and championing bold new voices. Their partnership was rooted in viewing and discussing art, and their work together created a platform for countless other artists.

Family

Tony is predeceased by his father and mother, Emanuel and Mary Petracca. Tony is survived by many loving family members including his Kim Foster, Brothers Martin and Emanuel (Joe), Sisters Gemma and Regina Petracca and Anne Marie O’Reilly and their spouses. Tony will also be missed by nieces and nephews of the Petracca and Foster families.

Honoring a Legacy

To memorialize Tony’s foundational contributions to Rochester’s art community, the Rochester Contemporary Art Center has established the Tony Petracca and Kim Foster Fund. This initiative will support RoCo’s growing endowment, and ensure the organization’s long-term sustainability and continued programming. In addition, RoCo will rename its LAB Space in honor of Tony and Kim, cementing their legacy at the heart of the institution Tony helped initiate.

Tony Petracca lived his life with conviction, stubborn persistence, and an artist’s unshakable faith in the importance of asking questions. His life and work will continue to inspire all who believe in the transformative power of art, community, and culture.

Those wishing to honor Tony’s memory may make donations to the Tony Petracca and Kim Foster Fund through this page: rochestercontemporary.org/support

or

Rochester Contemporary Art Center
137 East Ave.
Rochester, NY 14604
(585) 461-2222

A private memorial service for friends and family will be held this summer.