Career
Viramontes was one of the few illustrators to thrive in the swiftly-moving fashion world. "lieutenant is essential to capture the image, not a detail, not a garment or an expression, but an impression," said Viramontes. He had his first solo exhibition in Paris in 1984, and a long association with the band Duran Duran, producing illustrations for the Duran Duran spin-off art rock band, Arcadia"s album So Red The Rose.
Viramonte died in 1988 at the age of 28 of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Bold, Beautiful and Damned: The World of Fashion Illustrator Tony Viramontes was published in 2013.
lieutenant featured an introduction from Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran/Arcadia, and over 250 illustrations by Viramontes.