Tony Armendariz

Tony Armendariz is a contemporary artist residing in Palatine, Illinois. His work focuses on figurative/portrait subjects rendered in watercolor. Graduating from the American Academy of Art in Chicago, he studied under renowned watercolor instructor Irving Shapiro. He has won numerous awards in national and international competitions and has exhibited his work in many group and solo exhibitions. 

Tony is a member of the American (AWS) and National (NWS) Watercolor Society and the Transparent Watercolor Society of America (TWSA) among others. This includes the Illinois Watercolor Society where he also served as director. He is represented by Hilliard Gallery in Kansas City, Missouri.

Education

1986      AA/Graphic Art, American Academy of Art, Chicago, IL

Awards and Honors

2026      Finalist – 'Splash 27: The Best of Watercolor', Annual watercolor publication

2025      Honorable Mention/Watercolor – 'ModPortrait 2025', Galeria artelibre

Finalist – '18th International ARC Salon 2025', Art Renewal Center

Semi-Finalist – 'Almenara Art Prize'

Best Figure & Portrait – 'PleinAir Salon/April', PleinAir® Magazine

Second Place – 'Aqueous 2025', National Exhibition, Kentucky Watercolor Society

Christiansen Memorial Award – '49th Annual International Exhibition' Transparent Watercolor Society of America

12th Place – '46th National Exhibition' Georgia Watercolor Society

First Place – 'International Juried Exhibition', Missouri Watercolor Society

Third Place – 'Splash 26: The Best of Watercolor', Annual watercolor publication

2024      Mary Bryan Memorial Award and Medal – '111th Annual Exhibition', Allied Artists of America 

Patrons Award – '56th Annual International Juried Exhibition', Watercolor West

Frank Webb Award of Merit – '48th Annual International Exhibition' Transparent Watercolor Society of America

Finalist – 'Splash 25: The Best of Watercolor', Annual watercolor publication

2023      Honorable Mention – '7th Annual National Juried Exhibition'

Frank Nofer Memorial Award for Transparent Watercolor – '123rd International Exhibition of Works on Paper', Philadelphia Watercolor Society

Mary Bryan Memorial Award and Medal – '110th Annual Exhibition', Allied Artists of America

Founders Award – '55th Annual International Juried Exhibition', Watercolor West

Finalist – 'Splash 24: The Best of Watercolor', Annual watercolor publication

2022      Best of Show – 'Vicinity 2022', St. Charles, IL

Second Place – 'Associate Members Online Show', American Watercolor Society

Commended Award – Watercolor International, Greece

Finalist – 'Splash 23: The Best of Watercolor', Annual watercolor publication

2021      Award of Excellence – '5th Annual National Juried Exhibition'

First Place, Other Media – 'Richeson 75 International: Figure/Portrait'

Dale Meyers Cooper Award and Medal – '108th Annual Exhibition', Allied Artists of America

Mijello Ultramarine Award – '41st International Exhibition', San Diego Watercolor Society

Best in Show | Purchase Award | People’s Choice Award – 'VMRC 18th Annual National Juried Exhibition'

Honorable Mention, Other Media – 'Richeson 75 International: Small Works' 

2020      Leila Gardin Sawyer Memorial Award – '92nd Grand National Exhibition', American Artists Professional League

Merit Award – '50th Annual International Exhibition', Louisiana Watercolor Society

2019      Blick Materials Art Award I – '43rd Annual International Exhibition', North East Watercolor Society
Bill and Magda Peregrin Memorial Award – '51st Annual International Juried Exhibition', Watercolor West
Second Place – 'Real People 2019'
First Place – '40th Annual International Juried Exhibition', Pennsylvania Watercolor Society
Purchase Award – '79th Annual International Open Exhibition', Northwest Watercolor Society
Honorable Mention – '26th Biennale, National Juried Exhibition Art League of Hilton Head'

2018      Best in Show - '42nd Annual International Exhibition', North East Watercolor Society

Excellence Award - '68th Annual National Exhibition', Academic Artists Association

2017      HK Holbein Watercolor Award – '67th Annual National Exhibition', Academic Artists Association

2015      Mary Lou Fitzgerald Memorial Award – '102nd Annual Exhibition', Allied Artists of America

2014      Artist Project Grant – Illinois Arts Council

Second Place, Other Media – 'Richeson75 International: Small Works'

Honorable Mention – 'AMERICA'S PARKS through the Beauty of Art 2'

2013      Murray Rosenberg Memorial Award/Aquamedia – '71st Annual National Exhibition of the Audubon Artists'

Technique/Skill category award – 'Summer Theme Show 2013', The American Artists Professional League

Watercolor Artist of the Year – 'Art Comes Alive 2013', Art Design Consultants, Inc.

Outstanding Watercolor – 'FASO BoldBrush Online Painting Competition (March)'

Best of Show - 'Winter Members' Show', Elmhurst Artists' Guild

2012      Juror's Award – '6th Annual Paint the Parks Exhibition' Mini Top 50

M. Graham & Co. Award - '36th Annual International Exhibition', North East Watercolor Society
 

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2024      Epiphany Center for the Arts, 'Latin Expressions', Chicago, IL

2023      Oak Park Library, 'Expression of Life', Oak Park, IL

2019      Roberta Fiskum Gallery, 'Contemporary Urban Landscapes' University of Wisconsin/Whitewater, WI

2015      Addison Center for the Arts, Addison, IL

2014      Hilliard Gallery, Kansas City, MO

La Citadelle Gallery, South Barrington, IL

2013      Ruth Ray Memorial Gallery at The Illinois Institute of Art - Schaumburg, IL

2012      Fermilab Art Gallery, 'Contemporary Realist Painting', Batavia, IL 

Elmhurst Artists' Guild Gallery, Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL

Morton College Art Gallery, 'Cuba', Cicero, IL