Tom Durham Artist Statement

I was first introduced to art while visiting the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Upon seeing Michelangelo’s Florentine Pieta , I was awe struck, even as a child the more than life like sculpture had a profound effect that moved me. I stood on the railing while the conveyor belt moved people behind me towards the exit. I was moved to stay look on the work for as long as allowed. I don’t know how long it was until I was finally asked to leave. To this day I still see that image as I saw it the first time.” Needless to say, I am still inspired and moved by all works of art. Many sculptures and drawings that I create are contemporary allegories that combine the classical with symbolic surreal imagery. They become personalized mythology influenced by literature, observation of life, and other works of art. I prefer a personalized narrative that alludes to its own past and future but it is still influenced by Greek mythology. Yet it is infused with the emotional complexities and interests of my own experiences thus making it a contemporary statement. that the viewer that really defines the story with their own experiences and interests.

An elected Fellow in the National Sculpture Society

Sculpture Society Portraits of the Americas

Society of Art for Imagination

Beinart International Collective of Surrealists

 

 

Commissions, Awards

2023- Brookgreen Medal NSS exhibition

2021-22- Pandemic, Nothing

2020- Collection New York Philharmonic, NY

2016 – 2020 -Director of Fine Arts Sculpture Academy of Art University of San Francisco

2015 – Private Commissions, New York

  • Portraits of writers for individual school library
  • Portraits of NY Philharmonic conductors

2013 – 2015- EIS Sculpture Studios New York, NY

  • Presentation drawings for sculpture and small clay models

2012   Hibernia Society, Charleston, SC

  • Portrait painting of Thomas Stephens

2011   HBO, Keven Largent Studios, New York, New York.

  • Sculpture of Larry David as Statue of Liberty, life size

2009   Commission Max Heller sculpture, Greenville, SC

2007   College of Charleston. Library, Portrait Mr. & Mrs. Greene

2005 – 2006 Commission, Friends of Pete Hollis, Greenville, SC

2005   Lorenzo De Medici Award for sculpture, Florence, Italy

2005   Commission, Citadel, Charleston, SC

2004   Commission, Bethesda Home for Boys, Savannah, Ga.

2004   Commission, V Fitness Health Club, Charleston, SC

2003   Florence Biennale, 2nd place, Lorenzo il Magnifico award, Florence Italy

2001   Commission Hometown Heroes, Greenville, SC.

2001   Commission, portrait, Gino Bataglio, Chicago, Ill.

2001   Commission, Christ and Child, Elpis Foundation, Agape Ministries, Charleston, SC

2000 – 2001 Commission, Phillip Simmons,  Elpis Foundation, Agape Ministries Charleston, SC

1997   Commission, Footlight Players Theater, Charleston, SC

1997   Commission, LifeQuest Triple Crown, Charleston, SC

1997   Commission, Sullivan’s Island Park Foundation, Sullivan’s Island, SC

1996   Commission, Atlanta History Center, Atlanta,GA

Exhibitions

2023- NSS Annual Exhibition

2023- Altered Realities NSS New York

2020-2022- Pandemic

2019- NSS Annual Exhibition

2018- Group Sculpture exhibition, Cannery Gallery, San Francisco

2018- Group exhibition Annual fundraiser Academy of Art San FRancisco

2017- NSS Annual Exhibition, NY and Brookgreen Gardens SC

2017- Group exhibition Annual fundraiser Academy of Art, San Francisco

2016- Solo exhibition Martin Gallery Charleston, SC

2016- Group sculpture exhibition Main Gallery Academy of San Francisco

2013 – 2015 Renaissance Art Gallery, Catskill, NY

2012   “Art for the Heart”, Vanderbilt Republic, Brooklyn, NY

2011   HBO, Kevin Largent Studios, New York, NY

2009   Dragon Con, Atlanta, GA

2008   75th Annual National Sculpture Society Exhibition, New York, NY

2008   nAscent Gallery, group exhibition, Philadelphia, PA

2007   Censorship, Brecht Forum, group exhibition, New York, NY

2007   Maryland Art Place Gala, group exhibition, Baltimore, MD

2007   “Open Studio Tours”, Post , Philadelphia, PA

2007   “Summer Nudes”, Antresian Gallery, group exhibition, Baltimore, M

2007   Nu Nu Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

2007   Dragon Con, Atlanta, GA

2007   ” Where Science Meets Art”, Society of Art for Imagination, group exhibition, Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport, PA

2006   National Sculpture Society Invitational, Park Avenue Atrium, New York, NY

2006   Heroes Con, Charlotte, NC

2005   Linearte, Expo, Gent, Belgium

2005   Arte Padova, Expo, Padua, Italy

2005   “The Scroll”, Waterfront Gallery, group exhibition, Charleston, SC

2004   Redux Gallery, group exhibition, Charleston, SC

2004   Fraser Fox Gallery, Charleston, SC

2004   “The Head Show”, Halsey Gallery, group exhibition, Charleston, SC

2003   Florence Biennale, Florence Italy

2003   Charleston City Gallery Vendue Range, group exhibition, Charleston, SC

2002   Jonathan Ferrara Gallery, group drawing show, New Orleans, LA

2002   Sculpture International Atlanta, Atlanta, GA

2002   Contemporary Art Center New Orleans, invitation, New Orleans, LA

2001   Martin Gallery, two person show, Charleston, SC

2000   International Fine Art Gallery, New Orleans, LA        

1999   DOCS Gallery, New Orleans, LA

1999   Caboose Gallery, Kent, CT

1999   Sculpture in the South, Summerville, SC

1999   Joie Lassiter Gallery, Charlotte, NC                                                                                                                                  1998          Wells Gallery, two person show, Charleston, SC

1998   DOCS Gallery, group show, New Orleans, LA

1998   “Material Objects”, SC Arts Commission, group exhibition, Columbia, SC

1989   Walker Art Center’s Fifth Open Studio Tour, Minneapolis, MN

Publications

 

2016  Sculpture Review Magazine, winter 2015-2016 issue

2015   Gods and Goddesses, Michael Publishing, LLC

2012   Life and Death of a Moth, print on demand through blurb.com

2012   Endangered Species, print on demand through blurb.com

2009   Images of Imagination, print on demand through blurb.com

2011   Featured artist, 100 Artists of the Male Figure by Eric Gibbons

2002   New Orleans Magazine, artist interview, April, 2002

 

Teaching and Professional Experience

2016- 2021                   Director of Fine Arts Sculpture Academy of Art University of 

                                          San Francisco

2012 – 2013              EIS Sculpture Studios, Brooklyn, NY

1990 – 2013              Self-employed Sculptor/ Artist

2000 – 2003              Tulane University, New Orleans, LA

1993 – 1999              College of Charleston, Charleston, SC

1988 – 1989              University of Minnesota, Morris, MN

1986 – 1988                University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

1984 – 1985              University of California, Los Angeles, CA   

Professional Affiliations

 

National Sculpture Society

Sculpture Society Portraits of the Americas

Society of Art for Imagination

Beinart International Collective of Surrealists

Education

1983                           M.F.A.                          University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

1982                           Graduate Studies       University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

1975                           B.A.                             College of Charleston, Charleston, SC