Claude Anthony “Tony” Sherman has been named a Houston Point of Light by the Forward Times Newspaper, for distinguishing himself as a nationally known artist, writer, lecturer, and sculptor. While attending Phillis Wheatley High School, C. Anthony Sherman was voted as Class Historian; was a member of the Explorer’s Club and an ROTC Lieutenant.
After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force for eight years (59-66) serving as a Crew Chief on B-52 bombers, during the Vietnam War. Tony became an entertainer while in the service and performed for military personnel all over the country.
Anthony also appeared on the Snookie Lanson Show (A Variety Show) as a comedy act. He was invited to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1966. However, Sullivan died that year.
Tony’s range in artistic presentations is considered masterful. His devotion to preserving the rich historical culture of the south led him to research, and write a book on the subject of The American Black Cowboys in 1988. In 2000, Tony was a contributing author to the “Black Cowboys of Texas,” published by the Texas A & M Press.
In 1994, Tony was chosen as one of 24 students from around the world to study portrait sculpture in Passavant, France, at the famous Vogel Sculpture Studio. Since returning, he created many portraits of prominent Americans, including his father; a 6 ½’ bronze sculpture for the city of Missouri City, Texas. In 1999, he was commissioned to sculpt the bust of the first African-American to own a new car dealership (1940), Ed Davis. Mr. Davis and Tony have appeared in numerous magazines such as Jet, African-Americans on Wheels, and other local publications.
Tony has been commissioned by the NAACP on many occasions to produce original works of art for their national and local conventions. Locally, he sculpted Bishop James Dixon; Principal, Ed Glover, and Rev Bill Lawson. Tony produced a major sculpture for the NAACP fundraising in 2002. Other corporate commissions include: Galveston Opera House Houston Minority Business Council, the Urban League, Texas Southern University, the George Ranch, Taylor Stevenson Ranch, to name a few.
In 1999, Tony completed a 9′ statue for the Juneteenth Monument to be placed on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol. Also, he is negotiating with the Houston Livestock and Rodeo to complete a larger than life-sized statue of Bill Pickett–a pioneer black Cowboy who invented bull-dogging. Tony recently completed a life-sized bronze bust of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for the HISD Early Childhood Center in Houston, Texas, and is the sculptor of Phillis Wheatley (located in the school’s lobby), commissioned by the Wheatley class of 1948.
Currently, he is working on a life-sized sculpture of Loren Anderson, the famed principal Ballerina for the Houston Ballet Company. This commission is being completed for the Edison Arts Foundation of Missouri City, TX.
As if that was not enough to keep him busy, Tony has volunteered as Development Chair for the United Way; as a Board Member of the Fort Bend Museum Association; as Chair of the Fort Bend Juneteenth Celebration for 5 years; a Judge for the Houston Livestock and Rodeo, and Lead Art Judge for the Fort Bend County Fair since 2000.
Recognizing his many talents, Governor George W. Bush appointed him to a 6-year term to the Texas Commission on the Arts in 1997, where he was one of 18 commissioners, and the first African American artist to serve in that capacity.
Additionally, he has performed as a Mediator/Counselor for the Dispute Resolution Center; Justice of The Peace Courts; United States Postal Service, and Windsor Village United Methodist Church. He founded a self-help group called Marriage Encounter Self Help Group, to help married couples resolve their conflict through group counseling.
In 2000, he founded a nonprofit organization called The Council of Elders, which helps kids who have behavioral problems in school, to keep them out of the justice system. Tony spends his retirement time working with his wife and youngest son, Trever, for FEMA related disasters.
Tony has even found time to complete fictional novels. His first (2015) is called The Sins of my Fathers 1 & 2(the 1st & 2nd in a trilogy). Additional ones are “The Promise at Koonville, The Governor’s Appointment, From the White Side, and The Metal Man of Mount Ash.” His books are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Authorhouse, and Google, under the name of C. Anthony Sherman.
On the three-dimensional side, he creates awards for corporations and individuals alike, into 3-D reality. He accepts commission requests on a limited basis.
