Chicago artist Tony Fitzpatrick — a fiercely independent essayist, painter and gallerist — dies at 66

Tony Fitzpatrick, one of Chicago’s celebrated multidisciplinary artists, has died at 66 years old.

Best known for his mixed-media collages, drawings, paintings, poetry and theatrical work, Fitzpatrick’s art addressed themes rooted in Chicago life, nature and human struggle.

Fitzpatrick’s work has been collected by major institutions including the Met, MoMA and the Art Institute of Chicago.

He had recently released a new book, “The Sun at the End of the Road,” which paired collages, etchings, poems and reflections on his life.

A three-week stage adaptation was scheduled to open at Steppenwolf Theatre in mid-October.

“A multi-hyphenate artist, Tony was creating up to his final days, with a production planned at Steppenwolf, an exhibit of new work ‘Songbirds and Crucifixions’ opened at Great Lakes Tattoo and the release of his new book,” said Brooke Flanagan, executive director of Steppenwolf. “His spirit will live on through his work.”

Flanagan said Fitzpatrick’s history with Steppenwolf goes back more than two decades, with him featuring in five productions at the theater as a performer.

He’s also the creator behind Steppenwolf’s “Night and Day in the Garden of All Other Ecstasies” mural, which he designed for the expanded Lefkofsky Arts and Education Center as a tribute to the late artistic director and ensemble member Martha Lavey.

“We are honored to have his legacy of artistry forever linked to our company through this extraordinary public art,” Flanagan said.

Born in November 1958 in Lombard, Fitzpatrick was the fourth of eight children in a Catholic family. In his career, he moved through many roles, including an artist, actor, poet and gallery curator. He was also known for his frank, uncompromising voice.

Funeral arrangements and information about survivors were not immediately available.