Bio | Exhibitions

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