About TOM’s Work
“Tom's work has evolved over time, moving from colorful organic shapes that float on the canvas to more brightly colored minimalistic, geometric shapes and forms that fill the entire space and substrate. His work is inspired by landscape, primarily, that is highly abstracted and distilled down to minimalist forms. His subtle texture and layering mirror his own psychological experiences of the subject, sometimes a glimpse into childhood experiences or into the political realities of current day. Tom's media has evolved as well. Moving from acrylic to flashe, a highly pigmented water-based paint which he applies using squeegees and a variety of straight edges to pull and scrape large forms onto his cradled wood panels. Within these forms is a subtle interplay of color and movement, inviting the viewer to look closer. The hand of the artist is visible in his work, as opposed to many minimalistic works where the artist's hand is not present at all. It's a characteristic of his current work that makes it so interesting and accessible. The work really stands out in its boldness, simplicity, and how different it is from the typical minimalistic genre. His paintings have this very subtle and warm interplay of color that really draws you in.”
—Jen Tough, Curator and owner of Jen Tough Gallery
MEET TOM
“I have been making art all of my life. Growing up I had an endless supply of paper, pencils, and paints always at the ready on a small card table in the corner of the living room. In high school, I took over the family garage as my studio. My father could build anything and my mother was a talented seamstress and artist. From them I learned that if something doesn’t work, you learn from it and keep trying. Seriously, what great parents!
What does this have to do with my art? I embrace a “discipline of accident,” using whatever happens on the surface in my process. Making marks and forms I create intuitive, layered abstracts, using a variety of media in my paintings. My art practice is influenced by both abstraction and minimalism, particularly aspects related to nature, identity, and the subconscious. These have power and drive my process.”
After a 2017 studio visit, Raphaela Platow, Executive Director of Louisville’s Speed Art Museum and former Director and Chief Curator of the Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Arts in Cincinnati, OH, commented, “I love that Tom is not afraid to embrace and use color; his paintings are so hopeful.” Tom’s work has been shown for the last twenty years in several US cities including New York, Miami, Santa Fe, Cincinnati, and in the San Francisco Bay Area; it is in private and corporate collections across the US. He holds a B.S. in English literature and a M.A. in psychology both of which inform his art making. Tom and his husband live in their restored Victorian home in Northern Kentucky, just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, Ohio along with Mavis, a feisty Norwich Terrier and Fanny a sweet Dandie Dinmont Terrier. Tom is happy to hear from anyone who wants to know more about his work.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS
2024
“Art of Water VIIII” Group Exhibition James May Gallery Milwaukee, WI
“All About Color” Group Exhibtion Conversations with Artists A curated blog
2023
“Good Will” Group Exhibition Page Bond Gallery Richmond, VA
“The Bright Side” Group Exhibition Jen Tough Gallery Santa Fe, NM
“Pollinate” Group Exhibition Page Bond Gallery Richmond, VA
“Small Works” Group Exhibition James May Gallery Milwaukee, WI
“Small Works” Group Exhibition JAG GAllery Key West, FL
“Small Works” Group Exhibition Jen Tough Gallery / Artist Alliance Santa Fe, NM
“Art of Water VII” Group Exhibition James May Gallery Milwaukee, WI
“Saturation” Group Exhibition 1628 LTD. Cincinnati OH
“Just Add Water” Group Exhibition Peninsula School of Art / Guenzel Gallery Fish Creek, WI
2022
“Emergent Realities and the Fabrication of Now” Group Exhibition Contemporary Art Chronicle San Francisco, CA and San Miguel de Allende, MEX
“Luminosity” Group Exhibition Jen Tough Gallery / Artist Alliance Santa Fe, NM (online due to COVID-19)
“New Conversations” Tom Owen & Janie Pinney: Exhibition of Recent Works Palette Home & Gallery Richmond VA
“Not Quite Seen” Group Exhibition 1628 LTD. Cincinnati OH
ArtExpo Dallas with Jen Tough Gallery Dallas TX
2021
“Jam Session” Group Exhibition Jen Tough Gallery / Artist Alliance Santa Fe, NM (online due to COVID-19)
“Juxtaposing Dimensions” Solo Exhibition Studio Kroner Gallery Cincinnati OH
Pride Pop-Up Solo Exhibition ADC Fine Art Cincinnati OH
"Art Comes Alive" International Group Exhibition (exhibiting since 2012) ADC Fine Art, Cincinnati OH
2020
Invitational Exhibition Group Exhibition by George Billis / George Billis Gallery Art Essex Gallery New York City, NY (online due to COVID-19)
“Natural Worlds” Group Exhibition Jen Tough Gallery / Artist Alliance Santa Fe, NM (online due to COVID-19)
Blink Art Resource Invitational Artist Showcase ADC Fine Art, Cincinnati OH
“Wild World” Gold Medal Exhibition California Art League Los Angeles, CA (online due to COVID 19)
“Rough Around the Edges” Group Exhibition. Jen Tough Gallery / Artist Alliance Santa Fe, NM (online due to COVID-19)
"Art Comes Alive" International Group Exhibition (exhibiting since 2012) ADC Fine Art, Cincinnati OH
“Socially Distanced” Group Exhibition Jen Tough Gallery / Artist Alliance Santa Fe, NM (online due to COVID-19)
“Art of Water IV” Group Exhibition James May Gallery Algoma, WI
47th Annual Winter Juried Show Duxbury Art Association Art Complex Museum Duxbury, MA
Inside/Outside: Small Works Show Jen Tough Gallery, Santa Fe, NM (July, cancelled due to COVID-19)
Grey/Gray Matters, Social Experiment and Exhibition, Divisible Projects and Gallery, Dayton, OH (August)
2019
“Yearning to Breathe Free”, Solo Exhibition, divisible Gallery, Dayton, OH
46th Annual Winter Juried Show Honorable Mention Award Duxbury Art Association Art Complex Museum Duxbury, MA
Artfields, Juried Exhibition of artists from the Southeast United States Lake City, SC Artist Interview
Art Santa Fe, with OPUS Art Collective managed by Jen Tough Gallery, International Group Exhibition Santa Fe, NM
Blink Art Resource Invitational Artist Showcase ADC Fine Art, Cincinnati OH
“Red,” Group Exhibition Arts Illiana Gallery, Terre Haute IN
Abstract Artist of the Year Award, "Art Comes Alive," International Juried Group Exhibition (exhibiting since 2012) ADC Fine Art, Cincinnati OH
2018
"After Dark," Group Exhibition Arts Benicia, Benicia CA
Blink Art Resource Invitational Artist Showcase ADC Fine Art, Cincinnati OH
Georges DuBoeuf Beaujolais Nouveau Label Competition, Finalist
Art Santa Fe, with OPUS Art Collective managed by Jen Tough Gallery, International Group Exhibition Santa Fe, NM
2017
"Guilty Pleasures," Group Exhibition Jen Tough Gallery, Vallejo, CA
Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series Regional Semi-finalist and Online winner
Blink Art / ADC 25th Anniversary Exhibition, Invitational Group Exhibition ADC Fine Art, Cincinnati OH
ArtExpo New York, International Group Exhibition New York City NY
"Contemporaries," Invitational Group Exhibition Greenwich House Galley, Cincinnati OH
2016
Honorable Mention Award, "Pastel 100", International Juried Competition, Pastel Journal
"Black and White," Group Exhibition Pop Revolution Gallery, Mason, OH
2015
SPECTRUM Miami, International Group Exhibition Miami FL
Abstract Artist of the Year Award, "Art Comes Alive" International Juried Exhibition ADC Fine Art, Cincinnati OH
2014
Honorable Mention Award, International Juried Exhibition World Wide Art, Los Angeles CA
2013
Finalist, 30th Annual Art Competition The Artist's Magazine
PARADE, Group Exhibition Carnegie Visual & Performing Arts Center, Covington KY
2008
Solo Exhibition University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati OH
SOS ART 08, Group Exhibition Art Academy of Cincinnati, Cincinnati OH
2005
"Visions IX," International Juried Exhibition The Cathedral Gallery, Covington KY
2004
“Personing,” Solo Exhibition The Cathedral Gallery, Covington KY
2003
“Figures,” Juried Group Exhibition Carnegie Visual & Performing Arts Center, Covington KY
2000
Juried Group Exhibition The Cinergy Foundation, Cincinnati OH
2000
The Big Pig Gig ARTWORKS public art project, Cincinnati OH
ARTICLES, BOOKS, & INTERVIEWS
Bond, Page, POLLINATE. Exhibition Catalog, Page Bond Gallery, May 2023. https://issuu.com/pbgallery/docs/pollinate_v.2?fr=sYmVhNzU2MDcyMQ.
Artist Spotlight Look Book:Tom Owen https://issuu.com/pbgallery/docs/owen_lookbook?fr=xKAE9_zU1NQ
Contemporary Art Chronicle. Volume 2 Emergent Realities and the Fabrication of Now. December 2022 https://www.cachronicle.net/volume2
Bond, Page, Good Will II. A Group Exhibition Catalog, Page Bond Gallery, December 2022, https://issuu.com/pbgallery/docs/good_will_ii
MIDWEST GOODNESS: A Chat with Artist Tom Owen. TOUGH ON ART Podcast by Jen Tough Gallery, February 02, 2022, Tom Owen Season 2 Episode 20 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1587283/10001530
Tough, Jen, Wildlands. Profiles of American Mid-career Artists, Jen Tough Gallery, January, 2021 https:www.blurb.com/11023271
Tough, Jen, Identity. Exhibition catalog, Jen Tough Gallery, November, 2020. https://issuu.com/jentoughgallery/docs/identity_online and available on Amazon in November 2020.
Burns, Roberta & Shady, Holly, eds.; ARTFIELDS 2019 “The Exhibition”, 2019, Lake City, SC
Spanos, Litsa, ed., BLINK “Your Art Resource” a juried catalog of professional artists, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015
Cross, Rebecca, “Artist Spotlight: Tom Owen Says Truth Has Power to Scatter Darkness”, SCNow Morning News. May 1, 2019
Spanos, Litsa, Secrets of the Art World. 2017.