The Restaurant Relief Fund

Famed Detroit artist Tony Roko has painted commissions for Jay Leno and Lady GaGa and now, Roko has created a series of paintings dedicated to some of his favorite local restaurants and bartenders – all for a great cause. The Restaurant Relief Fund is a collaborative initiative between Tony Roko’s Art Foundation and some of the most celebrated restaurants in the Detroit Area. After the devastating impact of the pandemic on the restaurant industry, Roko and friends in the restaurant business came up with the idea of the Restaurant Relief Fund with the goal to help giveback and offset some of the financial strain caused during the shutdown. “I’m just trying to come up with concepts that illustrate the hard work and devotion of the restaurant industry workers and the challenges they have faced in the last year,’’ says Roko of the idea. Paintings will be on display throughout Detroit at partner restaurants, such as Apparatus Room, Chartreuse Kitchen and Cocktails, Grey Ghost, Karl’s, SheWolf and Two James Spirits. Each installation will have a QR code for patrons to scan and purchase the print in the collection. A portion of proceeds from each print will be paid directly to the establishment for their team to use as they see fit to aid in the recovery from the pandemic. For more information visit artofroko.com.