TOM SMITH SWIMMING IN MY HEAD Opening Reception: November 17, 5–8pm Exhibition: November 17, 2017 – January 8, 2018
OLSEN GRUIN is proud to present Swimming In My Head, a solo show and new selection of paintings by NYC-based American artist, Tom Smith. For his new show, Smith continues his career exploration of the psychological power of color and light, guided by the influences of celebrated artists such as Joseph Albers and James Turrell. While Swimming in My Head contains a few of his signature “Strip Paintings” (pieces made by cutting two different abstract paintings into thin strips and resembling into one TV-lined distortion), Smith radically pushes the majority of this new body of work (as well as himself) through sheer size, technique and complexity. In these new large-scale works on canvas, Smith paints with his typical palette of kaleidoscopic gradients and shapes, but now drowns them in a sea of screen-printed vibration akin to the op-art tradition. The overlapping wavy lines create a dizzying and head-spinning moiré effect within the pictures. The dynamic forms within the depths of the base layers become obscured, leaving a psychedelic surrealist soup of fragments, shadows and textures. The largest works in the show are cinematic in their “widescreen” format and depict mysterious forms, alien landscapes and distorted events unfolding. “I’ve been watching Miyasaki’s films, which are full of beautiful, abstract moments, but they can also be scary. We don’t get to see the whole picture, only bits and pieces over time, while our minds are perpetually trying to make sense of it all”. - Tom Smith
Tom Smith received his BFA from the MICA in 2006 and his MFA from the School of Visual Arts in 2008. Drawing influence from travel, his work has been exhibited abroad in cities such as Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong and Taipei. His work features optical illusions using silkscreen and is greatly influenced by his experience in printmaking at Two Palms, NY. Smith has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, Elle, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Creators Project (VICE).
For further information please contact the gallery at info@olsengruin.com or at +1.646.525.6213. All images are subject to copyright. Gallery approval must be granted prior to reproduction.
SWIMMING IN MY HEAD, 2017
Tom Smith Monster Wave, 2016 Acrylic and collage on panel 40 x 30 " (101.6 x 76.2 cm) 51749 $7,000
Tom Smith Gate, 2017 Acrylic on paper, cut and collaged in strips on framed panel 60 x 48 " (152.4 x 121.9 cm) 51674 $10,000
Tom Smith Ghost Door, 2017 Acrylic on paper, cut and collaged in strips on framed panel 40 x 30 " (101.6 x 76.2 cm) 51675 $7,000
Tom Smith Gold Rune, 2017 Acrylic on paper, cut and collaged in strips on framed panel 40 x 30 " (101.6 x 76.2 cm) 51677 $7,000
Tom Smith Blue Slide, 2017 Acrylic on paper, cut and collaged in strips on framed panel 30 x 40 " (76.2 x 101.6 cm) 51673 $7,000
Tom Smith Wishing Well, 2017 Acrylic with silkscreen on canvas 29.5 x 24.5 " (74.9 x 62.2 cm) 51680 $5,000
Tom Smith Red Trajectory, 2017 Acrylic with silkscreen on canvas 60 x 84 " (152.4 x 213.4 cm) 51678 $15,000
Tom Smith Reefer, 2017 Acrylic and silkscreen on canvas 60 x 84 " (152.4 x 213.4 cm) 51710 $15,000
Tom Smith Airglow, 2017 Acrylic and silkscreen on canvas 84 x 120 " (213.4 x 304.8 cm) 51709 $25,000
Tom Smith Blue Resolution, 2017 Acrylic with silkscreen on canvas 40 x 50 " (101.6 x 127 cm) 51672 $9,000
Tom Smith Glider, 2017 Acrylic with silkscreen on canvas 40 x 50 " (101.6 x 127 cm) 51676 $9,000
Tom Smith Under Trees, 2017 Acrylic with silkscreen on canvas 40 x 50 " (101.6 x 127 cm) 51679 $9,000
Tom Smith Lush, 2017 Acrylic and silkscreen on canvas 50 x 40 " (127 x 101.6 cm) 51711 $9,000
TOM SMITH CV New York-based contemporary and multidisciplinary artist Tom Smith attended Maryland Institute College of Art and received his MFA from The School of Visual Arts in New York. Tom has exhibited work widely internationally and across America. His practice explores abstraction through process and experimentation. Born: Pennsylvania Lives: Lives and works in New York
Education: 2008 MFA, School of Visual Arts, New York, NY 2006 BFA, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), Baltimore, MD SOLO EXHIBTIONS: 2016 2016 2016 2015 2014 2014 2013 2009 2006 2004
I Want, Bluerider Art, Taipei, Taiwan Making Strange, Spring/Break Art Show, New York, USA Lost & Found, Palmer Art Projects, Sydney, Australia The Knot, William Wright Artist Projects, Sydney Heavenly Bodies, ROX Gallery, New York Largo das Artes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Delusions, Rox Gallery, New York Double Vision, Eyelevel BQE, Brooklyn Paradigms, MICA, Baltimore Disconnected, Student Space Gallery, MICA, Baltimore
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS: 2017 2016 2016 2016 2016 2015 2015 2014 2014 2013 2013 2011 2010 2010 2009 2009 2008 2008 2005 2005
Art Central Hong Kong, Bluerider Art, Hong Kong, China Team Work, Palmer Art Projects, Sydney Art Tapei, Bluerider Art Taipei, Taiwan The watermill Center Annual Benefit, The Watermill Center, New York SPICES, Magnan Metz Gallery, New York The Gruin Transfer, Gruin Art, New York Metarealism, Palmer Art Projects, Sydney Polish, Rox Gallery, New York Now You See, Rox Gallery, New York Spring/Break Art Show, Old School with Eyelevel BQE, New York Carbon War Room, New York The Eye in Eyelevel | a subject of multiple views, Eyelevel BQE, New York You Are Here, New York The Collective Show, Participant Inc. New York San Honesto (St. Honest), Eyelevel BQE, Brooklyn, New York The Brooklyn Artillery, New York Creative Alliance, Group Exhibition, Baltimore Thesis Exhibition, School of Visual Arts, New York Centre Pour l’Art et la Culture, Aix en Provence, France Fantastic Flights, Gallery Imperato, Baltimore, USA
2005 2004
MICA Juried Undergraduate Exhibition, Baltimore Burren College of Art Annual Exhibition, County Clare, Ireland
TOM SMITH
Tom Smith is a New York based visual artist working in multiple disciplines from painting, sculpture, installation and video art. His practice explores abstraction through process and experimentation. Tom creates a surreal world in his works through his exploration of light, space and colour. His works have a very distinct aesthetic and consistent energy throughout each medium that he explores. Smith is especially interested in the ways our perceptions are influenced by TV, the Internet and film. He is prolific in his practice and his inspiration comes through process and making. Inspired by the aesthetic of digital art, there is a digital quality to his work, which is reflected, in his unique, vibrant and radiant palette. Tom’s works are alive and vivid. He collages images together giving layers to his work, playing with color and interactions of imagery. The collage and layer aspect to Tom’s works gives depth and volume to his work. Smith attended Maryland Institute College of Art and received his MFA from The School of Visual Arts in New York. Tom has exhibited work widely internationally and across America. His works are very digitally influenced and have a digital look to them yet are very manual and analogue in their making.