Thomas John Carlson

born Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA 1981My studio is based in New York City, I live in Jersey City.I have 2 statements about my work that Ive posted below.The Construction Series (artist's statement 1)I have a fascination with the work ethic that is involved in construction, having grown up is a blue-collar family work ethic has always been an important aspect of my life. I feel that if it is evident that a painting has endured a high degree of work then it gains a strength and resolve.The act of painting a painting is an activity that parallels construction of buildings and roads. Organizing raw materials and applying them to create something thats functional. This series of paintings function is to equip the viewer with the role of developer; the people in the paintings function to facilitate the space and to be markers of progress and change. As role of the developer the ambiguities of the paintings generates a series of choices as to what the painting is about and to what the workers are building, all the while resting on the foundation of hard work and rendering.The Memoir Series ( Artist's Statement 2)These paintings are a type of visual memoir in which I document moments in my life personally significant to me. Similar to pa...