What Makes Tony Hammer of Hammer Fine Art Investment Grade?

My name is Tony Hammer. Raised in New York, I have been painting my entire life and was blessed from the start with a natural, highly versatile, God-given talent to create. Without making a direct comparison, it is much like Frank Sinatra: he was given an undeniable, God-given gift to sing, and I was given a God-given gift to paint. For me, art is a fluid, instinctual expression that allows me to move effortlessly across completely different styles.

I build dynamic, high-energy modern art paintings designed to serve as powerful accent pieces that make a living room look stunning. I also create subtle, elegant pieces of original abstract art that bring a calm, decorative beauty to a master suite. Both styles carry a distinct movement and raw energy that neither I nor my clients can ever fully describe. When I visit with collectors, they are getting far more than standard decor—they are acquiring investment-grade artwork from an artist who knows how to make any room look exceptional.

The Carriage House & Florida Gallery Years: High-End Curation & Modern Masters

After leaving Puerto Rico and moving to Miami, I took up residence at the legendary Carriage House on Miami Beach—an oceanfront enclave of wealth and influence. The majority of the building was residential, paired with hotel accommodations that included Bernard’s restaurant and the Tiffany Lounge directly overlooking Indian Creek along Collins Avenue.

At just 25 years old, I was surrounded by multi-millionaires, industrial titans, and serious art buyers—including legends like Baseball Hall-of-Famer Joe DiMaggio, luxury tobacco icon Nat Sherman, Hollywood star and classic Bond girl Jill St. John, and prominent British aristocrats knighted by the Queen of England—who lived with original, museum-grade masterpiece canvases hanging right on their walls.

My entry into co-owning a fine art gallery came through one of my lawyer clients, who introduced me to Jerry Felton. Jerry had previously owned a major gallery and was closely associated with renowned art dealer Marvin Rosenbaum. Together, Jerry and I partnered to co-own and operate a Florida fine art gallery—establishing a venue dedicated to top-tier modern art.

At our gallery, my original artwork was exhibited side-by-side with true Modern Masters:

• Pablo Picasso

• Joan Miró

• Salvador Dalí

• Marc Chagall

• Alexander Calder

• Victor Vasarely

• Graciela Rodo Boulanger

• Norman Rockwell

• LeRoy Neiman

• Peter Max

Exhibiting in the same space as these iconoclasts proved my work carried the scale, presence, and standard required for serious collectors—a legacy that continues to drive the value and vision of every original piece across my Original Abstract Art Collection. You can read more on the Hammer Art Insider Blog or view feedback on my Collector Reviews page.

The California Era: Marin County & Elite Circles

Before relocating to Fort Lauderdale, I lived and painted in Marin County, California, directly across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco.

Exhibiting as a featured artist at the Sausalito Art Festival—widely recognized as the premier fine art festival in the United States—cemented my standing as an international master abstract artist.

Throughout that era, my work and inner circle connected me directly with cultural powerhouses, sports legends, and entertainment icons who were both friends and  collectors.  

• Joe Eszterhas (Legendary Hollywood screenwriter of Basic Instinct and Jagged Edge)

• Clarence Clemons ("The Big Man," iconic saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band)

• Jonathan Cain (Iconic musician and keyboardist for Journey)

• En Vogue (Chart-topping 90s R&B royalty)

• Freda Payne (Iconic singer, actress, and model)

• Tony Conigliaro ("Tony C"—Boston Red Sox legend, dear friend, and dedicated collector)

• Paul Nave ("The Marin County Assassin," professional boxer)

• Dennis Tinerino (3x Mr. Universe)

• Ronnie Lott (Pro Football Hall of Famer and 4× Super Bowl champion with the 49ers)

• Bob Anderson  ((Globally iconic headliner and singing impressionist—famously praised by Tony Bennett as sounding better than Bennett himself)

Whether creating in New York, California, or South Florida, my commitment has always been delivering high-impact original abstract art and investment-grade artwork that commands attention in any luxury space. Today, collectors across both coasts continue to acquire pieces directly through Hammer Fine Art.