Statement / Biography
Artist Tom Szewc was born in the year 1951 in Philadelphia, PA.
Majoring in applied arts at Jules E. Mastbaum led to an early career in commercial art .
Tom went on to receive a BFA from the Philadelphia College of Art ( now the UArts ). Tom Szewc furthered his understanding of figure painting by intensive study with Arthur De Costa at the PAFA and later sensational color with Wolf Kahn.
Freelancing as a graphic designer and mural painter afforded Tom the freedom to travel all over the U.S. and paint. He now has his painting studio in Western North Carolina.
Tom Szewc: Artist Statement.
Contemporary Figurative Painter
“The most compelling image for me has always been the human figure.
There is no limit to the scope of exploration and expression in figuration.” -Tom Szewc
I am committed to portraying the human figure but I am not necessarily a storyteller.
I work as a way to examines themes such as the human condition, the important questions about meaning and purpose and the existential spirit of natural forms
In the process of painting and drawing I mix observation with memory and imagination to produce an invented images. Infusing a line or color with a charged expression is the purpose of my compositions.
Drawing is the core of my process and gives voice to my expression. I find it to be indispensable as an activity of the imagination.
Essential to my process is the study of anatomy and constructive anatomy. I blend the basic elements of classical painting with my own attitude and formal considerations of figurative art. I aspire to make figurative work that is equally of this moment and equally informed by the past.
Tom Szewc
Tom Szewc – Artist / Resume/Bio
70-74 Philadelphia College of Art ( now University of the Arts ) BFA in painting
75-76 Figure drawing sessions with Wayne Thiebald, University of CA, Davis, CA.
77-79 Figure drawing with Paul Gorka, Surrealist
76-80 Freelance Graphic Designer, Philadelphia and New York, USA
81-82 Art instructor, Philadelphia Institute of Art
81-83 Art Instructor, Antonelli Institute of Art and Photography
84-85 Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Studied figured painting with Arthur De Costa and also Anatomy
85 “Drawn from Nature” Pastel Landscapes of Tom Szewc” Grant-Whyte Art Gallery, La Jolla, CA
86 “Pastel Annual” Pastel Society of San Diego, San Diego, CA Juried show, Received First Place Award
87 “Current Trends” San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, CA Juried show
88 “ Imaged Realism” San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, CA Juried show
89-90 Cal Poly UC Davis. Studied Ceramics with Henry Wassels and Paul Soldner
91- Studied Landscape Painting with Wolf Kahn
92-93 Art instructor California Center for the Arts, Escondido,CA
92-94 Mesa College, San Diego, studied Raku ceramics
95- Workshop with Ovanes Berberian, Painter
96-97 Private Art instructor, Boise, ID
99- Workshop with Dan Gerhartz, Painter
04 “Recent Works” Robert T. Wright Gallery, CLC College, Grays Lake, IL Juror: Didier Nolet, Artist / Received Purchase Award
05 “Members Exhibition” Robert T. Wright Gallery, CLC College, Grays Lake, IL
05 “Fresh Air” Street Level Gallery, Highwood, IL, / 3 artist gallery show
05 “ Three Squared” Street Level Gallery, Highwood, IL / Invitational Group show
05 “8th Annual Chicago Art Open” Chicago Artist Coalition, Chicago, IL
05 “Contemporary Realism” Christopher Art Gallery, Prairie State College, Chicago Heights, IL Juror: Gregory G. Knight, Director of Visual Arts – Chicago Dept. of Cultural Affairs
06 “Inverse Proportions” Tom Szewc and Nicholas Sistler Scheduled: May 19th – June 23 rd. 2006 Robert T. Wright Gallery, CLC College, Grays Lake, IL
07 Represented by Ann Nathan Gallery Chicago,IL
14 Studio move to Western North Carolina
