Anthony Vega is a Puerto Rican and Cuban American painter, educator, and curator based in the Philadelphia area. Originally from the rural town of Green Creek, New Jersey, he studied fine art and philosophy at Saint Joseph’s University and received his Master of Fine Arts from the University of Delaware.
He is an Assistant Professor of Art at Reading Area Community College, a Hispanic-Serving Institution. He previously taught at the University of Delaware and Penn State Brandywine, teaching studio courses, contemporary art theory, and media studies.
He was also the director of UD@Crane, the University of Delaware’s Philadelphia gallery in the Crane Arts Building. He exhibits his work in galleries, museums, and other venues regionally and nationally.
Anthony’s practice rests on his fascination with language, meaning, and image, and with how connections are made both personally and socially. For many years, he made paintings from images found online. In 2026, during a sabbatical in Puerto Rico, his work turned toward shared experience. He invited people to draw alongside him, asking ¿Quieres dibujar conmigo? Do you want to draw with me? Those drawings are the basis for his current series of paintings, De mí a ti.
In February 2027, he will present on this work at the College Art Association Annual Conference, on the panel “The Other Othered: A Pedagogy of Care"
EDUCATION
MFA 2009 Painting University of Delaware
BA 2002 Fine Arts and Philosophy Saint Joseph’s University
SELECTED EXHIBITION RECORD
2022
Diálogo 365: New Rhizomes, Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia. Curated by Andreina Castillo and Gerard Silva.
2021
Saint Joseph's University Gallery, "After Party (I'm with them)", solo Show
2014 - 2018
Philadelphia International Airport, "its a wrap, 20 for 20"
Chris White Gallery, "Trying to Touch Clouds", solo Show
Philadelphia International Airport, Proximity (reproduction)
LG Tripp Gallery, "#aTourist", Philadelphia PA, solo show
InLiquid @Crane Hall
2012 - 2013
LG Tripp Gallery, “documents”, Philadelphia PA, solo show
Le Cochon Noir, “Paintings”, Philadelphia PA, solo show
2011
Red Dot Art Fair, Miami FL, represented by Oxenberg Fine Art
LG Tripp Gallery, “RSVP 2”, Philadelphia PA
Main Line Arts Center, “Fine Arts Benefit”, Haverford PA
UD@Crane, “A Meaningful Pursuit”, Philadelphia PA
Le Cochon Noir, “Paintings”, Philadelphia PA, solo show
2010
New Wilmington Artists Association, “Works on Paper”, Wilmington DE
Projects Gallery, “Its Who you Know”, Invitation by Brooke Holloway, Philadelphia PA
New Wilmington Artist Association, “Paintings”, Curated by Margaret Winslow Wilmington DE
Zhou B Art Center, “Wet Paint” Curated by Sergio Gomez Chicago IL (catalogue)
2009
Tower Hill School, “Observations”, Wilmington DE
Projects Gallery, “Fresh 2009”, Philadelphia PA
Gallery 919, “Paintings”, Wilmington DE, two person show
New Wilmington Artist Association, “Annual Member Show”, Wilmington DE
UD@Crane, “Let Release”, MFA Thesis Show at Crane Arts, Philadelphia PA (catalogue)
Noyes Museum, “Recent Work”, Atlantic City Airport, Atlantic City NJ, Solo Show
2008 - 2006
UD@Crane, “Symbiotic Factions”, Philadelphia PA
New Wilmington Artist Association, “Floor Show”, Wilmington DE
Gallery 919 Market, “Process”, Wilmington DE, two person show
Brooklyn Artist Gym, “Aesthetic Altercations”, Brooklyn NY
Recitation Gallery, “Reference Point”, Newark DE
Wilmington Library, “White (Paintings)”, Wilmington DE, Solo Exhibition
RESEARCH / SABBATICAL
2026
Sabbatical research project, Puerto Rico. ¿Quieres dibujar conmigo?, a collaborative drawing project with thirteen participants, the basis for the painting series "De mí a ti".
TALKS / PRESENTATIONS
2027
College Art Association Annual Conference, “The Other Othered: A Pedagogy of Care”
2018
“Trying to Touch Clouds,” artist talk, Penn State University Brandywine Campus
FELLOWSHIPS
2008 to 2009
Recipient of Magnus Fellowship, University of Delaware, Newark DE
AFFILIATIONS
Member of the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture
InLiquid Artist Member, Philadelphia PA
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Create! Magazine, artist feature, 2026, Create! Magazine 10th Anniversary Book.
Barbara Sherf, “Local artist’s stunning new mural at Hill church,” Chestnut Hill Local.
Flying Kite Media, "Featured Artist", September 2013
Victoria Donahoe, “Color and Line” Philadelphia Inquirer, May 2012
Chip Schwartz, “Role of Abstraction Analyzed at LG Tripp Gallery”, Knight Arts, May 2012
Edith Newhall, “This/That”, Philadelphia Inquirer, June 2011
Jim Hilgen, Interview, “INTERMISSION: STAGE Magazine Interviews”, STAGE Magazine May 2011
New American Paintings, Issue 81, The Open Studios Press, Boston MA
Anne Fabri, “MFA thesis publication”, University of Delaware 2009
EXHIBITIONS CURATED
2012 - 2011
“Decadence”, University of Delaware, UD@Crane Gallery
“Without End “, University of Delaware, UD@Crane Gallery
“Faction Politic”, University of Delaware, UD@Crane Gallery
Exhibition and partnership with the University of Delaware Art, Fashion and Apparel Studies and Susan B Kaiser from University of California Davis
“A Meaningful Pursuit”, University of Delaware, UD@Crane Gallery
Exhibition and partnership with the University of Delaware Art and Music Departments
“Inscrutable”, University of Delaware, UD@Crane Gallery
A dual site exhibition and partnership with the University of Delaware, College of Arts and Sciences, Art Department, Asian Studies Program and the Asian Arts Initiative
2010 - 2009
“Interactions”, University of Delaware, UD@Crane Gallery
Partnership with the University of Delaware music department.
“Everyone Wants to be Famous”, University of Delaware, UD@Crane Gallery
“Rate of Return”, University of Delaware, UD@Crane Gallery
In connection with Philagrafika, Co-Curated with Troy Richards and Bill Deering,
“Copy Center”, an interactive exhibition, co-created with Troy Richards and Implemented by Rebekah Wilhelm, UD MFA Candidate
“Material Impact”, University of Delaware, UD@Crane Gallery
Partnership with the University of Delaware English Department
“Information Translated”, University of Delaware, UD@Crane Gallery
“Lines”, University of Delaware, UD@Crane Gallery
EXPERIENCE
2018 to Present
Assistant Professor of Art, Reading Area Community College, Reading PA
2009 to 2018
Adjunct Faculty, University of Delaware, Newark DE
Adjunct Faculty, Penn State Brandywine, Media PA
2011 to 2013
Teaching Faculty, Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia PA
2009 - 2013
Curator/ Gallery Director, University of Delaware satellite gallery UD@Crane, Philadelphia PA
2009 to 2010
Adjunct Faculty, Delaware County Community College, Media PA
2008 and 2009
Adjunct Faculty, University of Delaware, Newark DE