Thomas Vandermeulen

Thomas is a photographer with five decades of image-making experience, including a period of printmaking (mainly lithography). Having worked over the years in all formats using 35mm to 8x10 view cameras, and various processes (primarily standard silver processing) Thomas' technique today is relatively simple and straightforward digital photography and pigment ink jet printing.
Thomas is based in southwest Michigan, USA.

WHY I PHOTOGRAPH
The vast majority of my pictures are of people, and not for public consumption. What I consider my "fine art" images are rooted in a formalist aesthetic -- a picture is firstly an arrangement of line, shape and color on a flat surface. Sometimes, I'm trying for an arrangement that's restful and calm, like Matisse's comfortable chair. But sometimes I like to try for a composition that elicits a different kind of response due to its dynamism or simple subject selection. Although I transitioned years ago from the darkroom and analog photo processes, I now work with digital capture. In all cases, however, my post-processing is held to a minimum; any composites are "in camera" and not "photoshopped", and my goal is an object for display. It's what used to be called "straight photography."
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Bachelor of Science in Studio Art majoring in Printmaking & Photography, 1982; Western Michigan University; Kalamazoo, MI
(studied with Curtis Rhodes [lithography] and Paul Robert [intaglio])
Graduate Studies in Art History; 1984-1987; Arizona State University; Tempe, AZ.
(studied with Bill Jay [History of Photography])
Graduate Studies in Art History; Fall 1987; Institute of Fine Arts, New York University; New York, NY
Masters of Science in Accounting; 2004; Eastern Michigan University; Ypsilanti, MI

2026 - - - - - - - - - -

BlackBox Gallery, "Shadow & Light", juried group exhibition, online annex group.

2025 - - - - - - -

Midwest Center for Photography, "Ten by Ten", a juried group exhibition, Nov. 15 thru Dec 31

West Michigan Area Show, Kalamazoo Institute of Art, juried group exhibition

2023 - - - - - - - - - - -

Midwest Center for Photographic Art, October 2023, Group Exhibition, "Likeness"

Awagami International Minitaure Print Exhibition, 2023 - Honorable Mention; Sept 20, 2023, juried group exhibition

Midwest Center for Photography, July 2023, Group Exhibition, "Blue"