Raised in the 1960s and ‘70s in San Fernando, California, Tom Fritz’s vivid recollections of the motorcycle and automotive cultures of the time shaped the motor sport artist he would become.

For more than 20 years after graduating with a degree in two-dimensional art from California State University Northridge, Fritz worked as a designer and illustrator in the defense industry (ITT, Litton Industries, and Northrop Grumman) while accepting freelance commissions on his own time. Today, he paints from his studio in Ventura County, California.

After producing the widely acclaimed 1998 Harley-Davidson Annual Report series, Fritz was commissioned by Harley-Davidson in 2001 to paint an image commemorating their 100th anniversary. He has painted portraits of Harley-Davidson executives and has been commissioned to capture in art the history of the well-known motorcycle company.

One of the pre-eminent motor sport artists of his time, Fritz’s style is renowned for the narrative drama he brings to his work, illuminating the relationship between man and machine. He gives his structured and richly colored compositions an impressionistic feel, taking his subject matter beyond the traditional limitations of its genre.

In recognition of his work, Fritz is a seven-time recipient of the Automotive Fine Arts Society’s prestigious Peter Helck Award and is a member of the induction committee for Mattel’s Hot Wheels Hall of Fame at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

Fritz’s work can be found in many private and corporate collections around the world including those of General Motors, Ford Motor Company, the Automobile Association of America, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, and Pittsburgh Paint and Glass.

Fritz’s first stamp designs for the U.S. Postal Service, Muscle Cars (2013), were followed by his stamp designs for Pony Cars (2022).