Thomas Arthur “Tom” Spatafore (1950–2021)

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Thomas Arthur “Tom” Spatafore (1950–2021)
Subject “Hummingbirds and Lady’s Slippers ”
Image size 18″ x 24″ ( 26″ x 32″ framed ) ………$995.00 Canadian

Canadian Artist, Sculptor, and Entrepreneur

Thomas Arthur Spatafore (April 17, 1950 – July 27, 2021) was a Canadian artist, sculptor, and entrepreneur based in Coe Hill, Ontario. Moving to the area in 1973, he began painting in the 1980s and also established himself as an accomplished sculptor, carver and artist – working especially in acrylics.

Spatafore’s wildlife sculptures—depicting creatures like ducks, loons, moose, and fish—were showcased at the Buckhorn Wildlife Art Festival, a prominent venue for Canadian wildlife art. He gained broader attention in 1985 when he debuted his acrylic-cast sculptures at the Toronto Gift Show, securing over $70,000 in orders from major Canadian retailers including The Bay, and among exhibitors preparing for Expo 86.

Thanks to his ingenuity, he could reproduce sculptures that combined durability and detail, making fine wildlife art more widely accessible. At the same time, he produced a series of signed, limited-edition wildlife prints—On the Edge (Bass), Speckled Trout, The King (Salmon), and Yellow Pickerel—that expanded his reach to collectors and enthusiasts across the country.

Throughout the late 1980s and beyond, Spatafore’s works appeared in national outlets, including People’s Jewellers and Burk’s, reinforcing his role as an artist who merged craftsmanship with community and commerce. His listing in the Artists in Canada registry in 1985 underlined Coe Hill as his creative home base.

Spatafore’s legacy is that of both an innovator and a community fighter—an artist whose work celebrated Canada’s wildlife, connected with audiences through both sculpture and print, and aimed to sustain local industry through his designs.

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Selected Exhibitions & Career Highlights

• 1980s – Began painting in acrylics; developed as a sculptor and carver after relocating to Coe Hill in 1973.

• Buckhorn Wildlife Art Festival (1980s) – Exhibited wildlife sculpture, including depictions of Canadian birds and mammals.

• Toronto Gift Show (1985) – Debut of cast wildlife sculptures; secured more than $70,000 in orders, including from The Bay.

• Expo 86 (Vancouver, 1986) – Wildlife works included among exhibitors preparing for the World Exposition.

• Wildlife Prints – Issued limited-edition, signed prints: On the Edge (Bass), Speckled Trout, The King (Salmon), and Yellow Pickerel.

• Late 1980s–1990s – Work retailed nationally through outlets such as People’s Jewellers and Burk’s.