This iconic painting by world renowned artist, Mark Kostabi, was painted in 1986 and acquired by Hollywood movie producer, Rodney Sheldon, who owned the painting for more than 22 years until it was acquired by our gallery in November, 2008. This painting is Mark Kostabi's interpretation of of the classic 1942 Edward Hopper painting, "Nighthawks". "Nighthawks" may have been Hopper's take on the term "Night Owl", used to describe someone who stays up especially late. The scene was inspired by a diner (since demolished) in Greenwich Village, Hopper's home neighborhood in Manhattan. Hopper began painting it immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor. After this event, there was a large feeling of gloominess over the country, a feeling that is portrayed in the painting. The urban street is empty outside the diner, and inside none of the three patrons is apparently looking or talking to the others but instead is lost in their own thoughts. Two are a couple, while the third is a man sitting alone, with his back to the viewer. The diner's sole attendant, looking up from his work, appears to be peering out the window past the customers. His age is ambiguous. The corner of the diner is curved; curved glass connects the large expanse of glass on its two sides. Across the street are what looks like may be open windows on the second story. The light from the restaurant floods out onto the street outside, and a sliver of light casts its way into one of the windows. It is not only Hopper's most famous painting, but also one of the most recognizable in American art. It is currently in the permanent collection of the Art Insitute of Chicago, and it's value has been estimated at a quarter of a billion dollars.

This monumental work of art is one of the largest paintings ever completed by Mark Kostabi.