Come See Brilliant Artwork at Talia!
Written by Arlo Grey MacFarland
Talia, the open Italian kitchen by Julian Vallozzi, is not only serving up great food, but the vibes in the restaurant are immaculate. Various modern and abstract art pieces cover the walls, drawing the eye all over the room. As of now, there are three main featured artists at Talia: Pittsburgh locals Jeremy Raymer and Michael Lotanero, and internationally-renowned artist Banksy.
The iconic anonymous artist, Banksy, has a piece inside of Talia! However, it’s not your typical Banksy piece, known for rough line drawings of people on buildings. This piece is a welcome mat, where the “welcome” is made out of life jackets. There’s even a tag on it to certify that it’s a true Banksy piece. I was surprised to see this, as I didn’t know they are a multimedia artist, let alone having work in Pittsburgh.
Jeremy Raymer is a Pittsburgh muralist, who works with various canvas mediums and paints to achieve his work. Raymer specializes in spray paint art, drawing inspiration from graffiti culture. Raymer currently has two pieces on display at Talia, both distinctly his art style. The first is a giant mural of the Bird Girl statue in Savannah, Georgia. The mural takes up the whole wall, and the girl watches over all the guests at the restaurant. The other Raymer piece is a painting of an angel by the bar. The piece was made on a metal canvas, so as it ages and rusts, the art evolves with it.
Originally from Cleveland, Michael Lotanero studied at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in the 1980s. Lotanero’s main medium is painting, specializing in the abstract. Not only is he a painter, though, he is also an interior designer, often combining the two passions in his work. There are several Lotanero pieces inside Talia, all of which are abstract face portraits. The largest one, just to the right of the bar, is for sale, its estimated worth is around $20,000. His art studio is currently located at 2708 Penn Ave, in the Strip District.
To see this wonderful art for yourself and enjoy a great meal, you can visit Talia at 611 William Penn Place, taliapgh.com, or call them at (412) 456-8214.
