Artists Statement:
My work is based on the recollection and examination of moments in time in a lifetime spent trying to reconnect with a more authentic self than that initially self-consciously constructed to please and appease family, God and the cultural norms of that life’s times. The pieces mix objects chosen for their explicit significance or that act as symbolic characters in an idiosyncratic tableau. Their interplay results in scenarios that are very specifically autobiographical while the combination of objects for the viewer is often cryptic and inspires interpretation based on personal associations. Its whimsical presentation makes the work inviting, but deeper scrutiny reveals a mature hand at play in processing childhood repression, regret and loss.
Bio:
Tom has been exhibiting his work since 2006. He has shown in venues in the Los Angeles area and greater California, including the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, The Lancaster Museum Of Art, The Torrance Art Museum, The Advocate + Gochi Gallery, LA Artcore, and bG Gallery. He has been awarded Best In Show for “Invisible Realities” at the Satsuma Gallery and “Who Do You Think You Are?” at the San Fernando Valley Art And Cultural Center. He received the City Managers Award in the 32nd Annual Cedarfest at the Lancaster Museum Of Art. He was recently invited to attend a Kapaipai Professional Artist Development Workshop hosted by the Lancaster Museum Public Art Foundation and was awarded a grant from the Los Angeles Center For Cultural Innovation to cover the cost of participation. Tom has a BFA in acting from SUNY At Purchase. Primarily self-taught as an artist, he has also studied with Franklyn Liegel at the Art Center Pasadena, CA. He has been a member of The Los Angeles Art Association since 2006. He was born in Queens NY, grew up on Long Island NY, and lived in New York NY until 1995, at which time he moved to Los Angeles where he currently resides.
Education:
1982 BFA, SUNY at Purchase
Art Center College Of Design with Franklyn Liegel
Exhibitions:
Solo Shows
03.2014 | Play Therapy | Wallspace Gallery, Los Angeles, CA | Curator Valda Lake
Group Shows
03.2021 | Gild | Los Angeles Art Association, Los Angeles, CA (online exhibition)
12.2020 | Reflections | Kunsthaus RoZig (online exhibition) | Curators Eugene Huffman, Connie Kurtew
12.2020 | 2020 Open Show | Gallery 825/LAAA, Los Angeles, CA | Curator Shana Nys Dombrot
11.2020 | Aurora | Los Angeles Art Association, Los Angeles, CA (online exhibition)
10.2020 | Make Plain |Los Angeles Art Association, Los Angeles, CA (online exhibition)
09.2020 | Words On Printed Page | Los Angeles Art Association, Los Angeles, CA (online exhibition)
09.2020| 15th Annual California Open | Tag Gallery | Los Angeles, CA | Juror Kate Mothes
08.2020 | Non sequitur | Los Angeles Art Association | Los Angeles, CA (online exhibition)
06.2020 | Gleaming Apollo | Los Angeles Art Association, Los Angeles, CA (online exhibition)
05.2020 | Made In California | City Of Brea Art Gallery, Brea, CA | Jurors Heather Bowling and Evan Senn
04.2020 | A Novel Defense – Medical Face Masks As Art | The Slow Down Gallery Highland Park, CA
02.2020 | SFVA&CC Open Show | Winner “Best Of Show” |San Fernando Valley Arts & Cultural Center, Tarzana, CA | Juror Adria Becker
12.2019 | Open Show | Galley 825/LAAA, Los Angeles, CA | Juror Ade Omotosho
11.2019 | My Youth | TAG Gallery, Los Angeles, CA | Curators K. Ryan Henisey, Eugene Huffman
11.2019 | Putting It Back Together | UCR Palm Desert | Juror Terry Hastings
05.2018 | Stripes | bG Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
01.2018 | |2018 California Open Exhibition | TAG Gallery, Los Angeles, CA | Juror Kim Abeles
11.2017 | Who Do You Think You Are? | San Fernando Valley Art & Cultural Center, Tarzana, CA | Juror Lesley Krane
11.2017 | Addiction | Shockboxx Gallery, Hermosa Beach, CA | Juror Laura Schuler
10.2017 | Art In Play | Beyond The Lines Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
10.2017 | Hellmouth | Avenue 50 Studio, Highland Park, CA | Curator Leonard Greco
09.2017 | No Restraint | Ark Gallery, Altadena, CA | Curator Kristine Schomaker
07.2017 | Sizzle – The 5th Annual Summer Show | Wallspace Gallery, Los Angeles, CA | Curator Valda Lake
06.2017 | Cedarfest 32nd Annual Juried Arts Festival | Winner City Managers Award | MOAH Cedar, Lancaster, CA | Jurors Robin Rosenthal, Nicolas Shake
06.2017 | Out There | Gallery 825/LAAA, Los Angeles, CA | Curators Francisco George and William Escalera
06.2017 | Pissed Off | Tom Of Finland House, Los Angeles, CA | Curator Rhiannon Aarons
06.2017 | The Next Big Thing 2017 | Studio Channel Islands, Camarillo CA |Curator Tish Greenwood
05.2017 | Made In California | City Of Brea Art Gallery, Brea CA
04.2017 | El Festival De Las Flores | Neutra Gallery, Los Angeles, CA | Curator Dulce Stein
04.2017 | Allergies: the flower show | SugarMynt Gallery, S.Pasadena, CA | Curator Sararose Orlandini
02.2017 | Personal Narrative | Annenberg Community Beach House, Malibu, CA | Curators Diane Williams and Sheli Silverio
02.2017 | Make America… | Gallery 825/LAAA, Los Angeles, CA | Curator Nancy L. Meyer
12.2016| Open Show | Gallery 825/LAAA, Los Angeles, CA
11.2016 | Mas Attack | Torrance Art Museum, Torrance CA
10.2016 |Systems + Process | Angel City Brewery, Los Angeles CA | Curators Sheli Silvrerio and Diane Williams
09.2016 | All Media 2016 | Irvine Fine Arts Center, Irvine CA | Curator Dan Cameron
08.2016 | Play | Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA | Curator Scott Canty
07.2016 | CA 101 | South Bay Galleria Mall, Redondo Beach, CA | Curator Nina Zak Laddon
07.2016 | LA Artcore 2nd Annual Online Competition & Exhibition | LA Artcore Brewery Annex, Los Angeles, CA | Jurors Andi Campognone, Peter Frank, Tracey Landworth, Ramone Munoz, Mark Steven Greenfield
06.2016 | Out There | Gallery 825/LAAA, Los Angeles, CA | Curators Francisco George and William Escalera
06.2016 | The Next Big Thing |Studio Channel Islands, Camarillo, CA | Curator Peter Mays
02.2016 | This Foolish Game | Gallery 825/LAAA, Los Angeles, CA | Curator Kurt Mueller
07.2015 | Osmosis | Wallspace Gallery, Los Angeles, CA |Curator Valda Lake
06.2015 | Out There | Gallery 825/LAAA, Los Angeles, CA |Curators William Escalera and Francisco George
04.2015 | small time | Gallery 825/LAAA, Los Angeles, CA |Curator Cris McCall
06.2014 | Synthesis |Wallspace Gallery, Los Angeles, CA |Curator Valda Lake
02.2014 | Habitual | Gallery 825/LAAA, Los Angeles, CA | Curator Mills Moran
10.2013 | Pop Uber Alles | Gallery 825/LAAA, Los Angeles, CA | Curator Timothy Potts
11.2013 | DiscARTed | Ojai Art Festival, Ojai CA | Curator Deborah Munk
04.2013 | One | Wallspace Gallery, Los Angeles, CA | Curator Valda Lake
10.2012 | Vivacity | Wallspace Gallery, Los Angeles, CA | Curator Valda Lake
12.2011 | Art Traffic | The Advocate & Gochis Gallery, LA CA
06.2008 | Out There | Gallery 825/LAAA, Los Angeles, CA | Curator Cliff Benjamin
03.2008 | Art Objects | The Advocate & Gochis Gallery, Los Angeles, CA|Curator Allison Moon
06.2007 | Out in NoHo |NoHo Gallery, Los Angeles, CA|Curator Dan Debevoise
11.2006 | Invisible Realities | Satsuma Gallery, Los Angeles, CA| Juror Paul Botello
Awards
02.2020 | Best Of Show | San Fernando Valley Arts & Cultural Center, Tarzana, CA | Judge Adria Becker
06.2017 | City Manager’s Award | Cedarfest 32nd Annual Juried Arts Festival | Lancaster Museum Of Art And History, Lancaster CA
11.2006 | Best Of Show | Invisible Realities | Satsuma Gallery, North Hollywood, CA | Juror Paul Botello