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 and most recently Staff Pick in the annual “Made In CA” exhibition at Brea Gallery.
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
2014
Play Therapy | Wallspace Gallery, Los Angeles CA | Curator Valda Lake
Group Shows
2023
Full-Bodied | Los Angeles Art Association (online exhibition) | Curator Peter Mays
Text/Message | Shoebox Projects (online exhibition) | Curator Kristine Shomaker
38th Annual Made In CA Exhibition | Brea Gallery, Brea CA
Informationary | Los Angeles Art Association (online exhibition) | Curator Peter Mays
Non-sequitur | Los Angeles Art Association (online exhibition) | Curator Peter Mays
Coy | Los Angeles Art Association (online exhibition) | Curator Peter Mays
2022
The Next Big Thing | Studio Channel Islands, Camarillo CA | Juror David Pages
There From Here | Artshare LA, Los Angeles CA | Curator Baha Danesh
Made In The USA | Tag Gallery, Los Angeles CA
Adorn | Los Angeles Art Association (online exhibition) | Curator Peter Mays
Drama:Storytelling In Art | Orange County Center For Contemporary Art, Santa Ana CA | juror Ziying Duan
Kapaipai Group Exhibition | Melissa Morgan Gallery, Palm Desert CA | Jurors Andi Campognone, Melissa Morgan
Artists Vision | Marin Society Of Artists (online exhibition) | Curator Jen Tough
Human Faces And Forms | Las Laguna Gallery (online exhibition)
Penumbra | Los Angeles Art Association (online exhibition)
2021
The Next Big Thing | Studio Channel Islands, Camarillo CA | Curator Peter Mays
Reflection | Launch L.A., The Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles CA | Jurors Sunook Park, Terrell Tilford
Artists Guild Summer Exhibition | San Diego Museum Of Art (online Exhibition) | Juror Anita Feldman
LA Open | Tag Gallery | Los Angeles CA |
That’s Effin’ Funny | Shoebox Projects 9online exhibition) | Juror Debbie Korbel
Apocrypha | Los Angeles Art Association (online exhibition)
Rosig (pink) | Kunsthaus RoZig (online exhibition) | Jurors Eugene Huffman, Connie Kurtew
Ready Go | Los Angeles Art Association (online exhibition) | Curator Peter Mays
Gild | Los Angeles Art Association (online exhibition) | Curator Peter Mays
Aurora | Los Angeles Art Association (online exhibition) | Curator Peter Mays
2020
Reflections | Kunsthaus RoZig (online exhibition) | Curators Eugene Huffman, Connie Kurtew
2020 Open Show | Gallery 825/LAAA, Los Angeles, CA | Curator Shana Nys Dombrot
Make Plain |Los Angeles Art Association (online exhibition) | Curator Peter Mays
Words On Printed Page | Los Angeles Art Association (online exhibition) | Curator Peter Mays
15th Annual California Open | Tag Gallery | Los Angeles CA | Juror Kate Mothes
Non sequitur | Los Angeles Art Association (online exhibition) | Curator Peter Mays
Gleaming Apollo | Los Angeles Art Association (online exhibition) | Curator Peter Mays
Made In California | City Of Brea Art Gallery, Brea CA | Jurors Heather Bowling and Evan Senn
A Novel Defense – Medical Face Masks As Art | The Slow Down Gallery Highland Park CA
Open Show | Winner “Best Of Show” | San Fernando Valley Arts & Cultural Center, Tarzana CA | Juror Adria Becker
Open Show | Galley 825/LAAA, Los Angeles CA | Juror Ade Omotosho
2019
My Youth | TAG Gallery, Los Angeles CA | Curators K. Ryan Henisey, Eugene Huffman
Putting It Back Together | UCR Palm Desert CA | Juror Terry Hastings
2018
Stripes | bG Gallery, Santa Monica CA
2018 California Open Exhibition | TAG Gallery, Los Angeles CA | Juror Kim Abeles
Who Do You Think You Are? | San Fernando Valley Art & Cultural Center, Tarzana CA | Juror Lesley Krane
2017
Addiction | Shockboxx Gallery, Hermosa Beach CA | Juror Laura Schuler
Art In Play | Beyond The Lines Gallery, Santa Monica CA
Hellmouth | Avenue 50 Studio, Highland Park CA | Curator Leonard Greco
No Restraint | Ark Gallery, Altadena CA | Curator Kristine Schomaker
Sizzle – The 5th Annual Summer Show | Wallspace Gallery, Los Angeles CA | Curator Valda Lake
Cedarfest 32nd Annual Juried Arts Festival | Winner City Managers Award | MOAH Cedar, Lancaster CA | Jurors Robin Rosenthal, Nicolas Shake
Out There | Gallery 825/LAAA, Los Angeles CA | Curators Francisco George and William Escalera
Pissed Off | Tom Of Finland House, Los Angeles CA | Curator Rhiannon Aarons
The Next Big Thing 2017 | Studio Channel Islands, Camarillo CA |Curator Tish Greenwood
Made In California | City Of Brea Art Gallery, Brea CA
El Festival De Las Flores | Neutra Gallery, Los Angeles CA | Curator Dulce Stein
Personal Narrative | Annenberg Community Beach House, Malibu CA | Curators Diane Williams and Sheli Silverio
Make America… | Gallery 825/LAAA, Los Angeles CA | Curator Nancy L. Meyer
2016
Open Show | Gallery 825/LAAA, Los Angeles CA
Mas Attack | Torrance Art Museum, Torrance CA
Systems + Process | Angel City Brewery, Los Angeles CA | Curators Sheli Silvrerio and Diane Williams
All Media 2016 | Irvine Fine Arts Center, Irvine CA | Curator Dan Cameron
Play | Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles CA | Curator Scott Canty
CA 101 | South Bay Galleria Mall, Redondo Beach CA | Curator Nina Zak Laddon
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
Out There | Gallery 825/LAAA, Los Angeles CA | Curators Francisco George and William Escalera
The Next Big Thing |Studio Channel Islands, Camarillo CA | Curator Peter Mays
This Foolish Game | Gallery 825/LAAA, Los Angeles CA | Curator Kurt Mueller
2015
Osmosis | Wallspace Gallery, Los Angeles CA |Curator Valda Lake
Out There | Gallery 825/LAAA, Los Angeles CA |Curators William Escalera and Francisco George
small time | Gallery 825/LAAA, Los Angeles CA |Curator Cris McCall
2014
Synthesis |Wallspace Gallery, Los Angeles CA |Curator Valda Lake
Habitual | Gallery 825/LAAA, Los Angeles CA | Curator Mills Moran
2013
Pop Uber Alles | Gallery 825/LAAA, Los Angeles CA | Curator Timothy Potts
DiscARTed | Ojai Art Festival, Ojai CA | Curator Deborah Munk
One | Wallspace Gallery, Los Angeles CA | Curator Valda Lake
2012
Vivacity | Wallspace Gallery, Los Angeles CA | Curator Valda Lake
2011
Art Traffic | The Advocate & Gochis Gallery, Los Angeles CA
2008
Out There | Gallery 825/LAAA, Los Angeles CA | Curator Cliff Benjamin
Art Objects | The Advocate & Gochis Gallery, Los Angeles CA|Curator Allison Moon
2007
Out in NoHo |NoHo Gallery, Los Angeles CA|Curator Dan Debevoise
2006
Invisible Realities | Satsuma Gallery, Los Angeles CA | Juror Paul Botello
Awards
2023 | Staff Pick | Made In CA |Brea Gallery Brea, CA
2021 | Third Place | The Next Big Thing | Studio Channel Islands, Camarillo CA | Judge Peter Mays
2020 | Best Of Show | Open Show | San Fernando Valley Arts & Cultural Center, Tarzana CA | Judge Adria Becker
2017 | City Manager’s Award | Cedarfest 32nd Annual Juried Arts Festival | Lancaster Museum Of Art And History, Lancaster CA
2006 | Best Of Show | Invisible Realities | Satsuma Gallery, North Hollywood CA | Juror Paul Botello