TOM FLANAGAN (American b. 1965- )Painter Tom Flanagan’s paintings have been called, “jumpy, pointy, sly and deceitfully clever complex hard-edge abstractions that go deep into modernist logic. I’ve always been interested in abstraction because it allows me to build a kind of logical mess that is unique to my sensibilities and experiences. It’s the organization of the ‘mess’ that fascinates me. It’s a kind of nod to what’s outside the studio and my reaction to it.”With an emphasis on geometric and organic shapes combined with lines mixed with saturated colors, middle tones and greys his work has been described as the physical representation of sound and movement. The famous American Jazz Composer and Musician, Dizzy Gillespie, once said that he wasn’t interested in music – he was interested in sounds. Similarly, I’m interested in how sensations and sensibilities guide visual experience. My paintings are about how those things fit together and what happens with that moment. For me, the process of painting through improvisation is incredibly important. Not knowing where the painting will take me and accepting the concept of mystery is paramount. I’ve always been fascinated by artists who build their own language with a few colors, blank canvas and time. I tend to see such works as presenting something of a personal narrative of experience. My titles are meant as a way in and offer a kind of narrative tone that touches on sensation and memory. As a result, my work is more about listening than speaking. Exhibitions: 2018 Center for Maine Contemporary Art Biennial, Rockland, ME 2018 Frank Brockman Gallery, Brunswick, ME 2017 Yarmouth Historical Center, Yarmouth, ME 2017 Greenhut Gallery, Abstraction Invitational, Portland, ME 2016 Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth, ME 2016 Susan Maasch Fine Art, Portland ME 2015 Susan Maasch Fine Art, Portland, ME 2014 Critics Choice, Harlow Gallery, Hallowell, ME 2013 George Marshall Store Gallery, York, ME 2012 Bill Lowe Gallery, Atlanta, GA 2011 Bill Lowe Gallery, Atlanta GA 2010 Bill Lowe Gallery, Atlanta, GA 2009 Gibson Studio Gallery, Art Basil, Miami, FL 1996 The Gertrude Thomas Chapman Art Center, Cazenovia, NY, Solo Exhibit 1996 Kroma Gallery, Salem, Mass, Solo Exhibit 1995 University of South Maine Gallery, Portland, ME, Solo Exhibit 1995 Powers Music School Gallery, Belmont, Mass, Solo Exhibit1995 Doshi Center for Contemporary Art, Harrisburg, PA 1995 Milton Gallery, Washington Art Association, Washington, CT 1994 Maine Coast Artist 16th Annual Juried Exhibition, Rockport, ME 1994 School of Art Gallery, Kent State University, Ashtabula, OH 1993 Heartwood School of Art, Faculty Exhibition, Kennebunk, ME 1993 Berkshire Art Association, Exhibition of Works on Paper, Pittsfield, Mass 1993 Catherine Smith Gallery, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 1993 Danforth Gallery, Portland, ME 1992 Morlan Gallery, Curated Exhibition of Hand Made Books, Lexington KY 1991 Siegfried Gallery, Graduate Thesis Exhibition, Athens, OH 1990 Siegfried Gallery, Graduate Drawing Exhibition, Athens, OH 1990 Why Not Etna Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA 1990 Carson Street Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA 1990 Greensburg Museum of Art, “Winterlude”, Greensburg, PA 1989 Siegfried Gallery, Graduate Drawing Exhibition, Athens, OH 1989 Carson Street Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA Corporate Collections:Bryant University, Smithfield, Rhode IslandThe List, Atlanta, GeorgiaThe Press Hotel, Portland Maine,The St. Regis Hotel, Atlanta, GeorgiaIntegrity Asset Management, Rocky River, OhioStan Topol & Associates, Atlanta, GeorgiaEF Education First, Cambridge, Massachusetts Teaching Experience:1993-1996 Foundation Drawing/Painting, Heartwood School of Art, Kennebunk, ME1994 Artist in Residence, Thornton Academy, Saco, ME1989-1990 Two Dimensional Design/Drawing Instructor, Ohio University, Athens, OH1989 Drawing/Painting Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA1988-1989 Art Instructor, St. Elizabeth Elementary School, Pittsburgh, PA Reviews and Articles: Boston Voyager Magazine, Boston Voyager Summer 2018, Check Out Tom Flanagan’s Artwork Maine Arts Journal – UMVA Quarterly, State of the Studio, “Studio Practice – Tom Flanagan 2018,” Summer 2018 Anna Eleanor Jordan, “Preview: Tom Flanagan at Frank Brockman Gallery,” Art New England, January/February, 2018Daniel Kany, “Tom Flanagan’s bold, abstract paintings well-suited to Brunswick space,” Portland Press Herald, February 18, 2018, Daniel Kany, “Abstraction goes long at Greenhut Galleries,” Portland Press Herald, February 19, 2017 Sugarlift Blog, “Catching up with: Tom Flanagan,” Summer 2017 Erin Little, “Studio Tour: Painter Tom Flanagan,” Erin Little Photography, July 28, 2016 Daniel Kany, “A play at form and abstraction in Tom Flanagan’s paintings,” Portland Press Herald, July 12, 2015 Daniel Kany, “Geometrical abstraction at its brilliant best,” Portland Press Herald, August 19, 2012