Tom Sanford
Tom Sanford was born in 1975 in Bronxville (New York, USA). He holds a BA from Columbia University, and a MFA from Hunter College. He lives and works in New York.
His research and reference points accumulate from a melting pot of sources ranging from the Renaissance, the Dutch Golden Age, 19th-century Salon paintings, Pop Art and Pop-Surrealism all the way to graphics more commonly associated with political cartoons, advertising signage, Hollywood tabloids, and gas-station novelties.
He paints within the established tradition of still life and portraits, though he employs contemporary references as his subject matter. His still lifes depict – above all – beer, but also pizza boxes and hard liquor in large quantities. His portraits focus on various forms of humanity–villains and victims, as well as the tragedies and triumphs of the moment.
The artist draws inspiration from today’s world: “I am interested in history, but I work in a post-historical period. I make paintings about the time I live in. – Tom Sanford says-. The media is my muse, I paint by the light of my computer. I make paintings about the things that interest me. I wish I had time to paint more things, but art is slow and the world is fast.”
His works are in museums and galleries all around the globe, and he had solo exhibitions in galleries such Gallery Poulsen (Copenhagen), Kravets Wehby Gallery (NYC), Galleri SE (Bergen), Gitler & ___ (NYC), Leo Koenig Inc. (NYC), Galleri Faurschou (Copenhagen), BravinLee Programs (NYC), and Gallery ZIdane (Lussemburgo) among the others, and in numerous collective exhibitions. Sanford is part of the Aftermodernism artistic movement founded by the collector Hubert Neumann. In October 2020, he exhibited at Mucciaccia Contemporary in Rome in the Aftermodernism Chapter 2 Benjamin Edwards Tom Sanford show, curated by Cesare Biasini Selvaggi.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2018
Have you seen this Man?, Gitler &____, Harlem, New York, United States of America
Triad (with James Busby and Christian Schumann), Neumann Wolfson Art, New York, United States of America
2017
Greetings From Harlem, The Palm Tree Gallery, London, England
2015
What’s Good in the ‘Hood, Gitler&____, Harlem, New York, United States of America
The Rape of the Masters, Gallerie s.e, Bergen, Norway
2014
The Lifes of the Artists, Gallery Poulsen, Copenhagen, Denmark
2013
Café des Artistes, Kravets/Wehby Gallery, New York, United States of America
2012
100 Little Deaths, BravinLee Programs, New York, United States of America
The Saints of the Lower East Side, curated by Keith Schweitzer, ArtUp, FABnyc, New York, United States of America
2011
CLASH, curated by Erna Hecey, Gallery Zidoun, Luxembourg
The Decline of Western Civilization (part 3), Gallery Poulsen, Copenhagen, Denmark
POWHIDA, collaboration with William Powhida, Marlborough Chelsea, New York, United States of America
2008
Mr. Hangover Leo Koenig Inc., New York, United States of America
2007
Bad Religion, Galleri Faurschou, Copenhagen, Denmark
2006
I will Fukn Rob Your White Ass, Leo Koenig Inc., New York, United States of America
2005
The Life and Times of TomPAC, Galleri Faurschou, Copenhagen, Denmark
2004
TomPAC, Western Projects, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
2003
Bling, 31 Grand, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
Keepin’ it Gangsta, Keepin’ it Global, Tomoya Saito Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Selected Group Exhibitions
2020
Aftermoderism Chapter 2, Benjamin Edwards and Tom Sanford, curated by Cesare Biasini Selvaggi, Mucciaccia Contemporary, Rome, Italy
2017
Birds of America, EXPLORATIONS OF AUDUBON: THE PAINTINGS OF LARRY RIVERS AND OTHERS, 101/Exhibit, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
2016
The Election Collection, Gallerie s.e, Bergen, Norway
The Oasis, Gitler&___, Harlem, New York, Unites States of America
Poulsen’s Fifteen, Gallery Poulsen, Copenhagen, Denmark
The Four Sons, Gitler&____, Harlem, New York, Unites States of America
Sensorium, Kravets/Wehby Gallery, New York, Unites States of America
2015
The Hunt of the Unicorn, Gitler&_______, Harlem, New York, Unites States of America
The Copenhagen Interpretation (part 2), Gallery Poulsen, Copenhagen, Denmark
The Copenhagen Interpretation, The Lodge Gallery, New York, Unites States of America
2014
Natural Enemies, curated by Elizabeth Saperstein, Pelham Art Center, New York
Exquisite Corpse, curated by Amir H. Fallah, Mass Gallery, Austin, Texas
Django, curated by Rene Holm, Galleri Franz Pedersen, Denmark
2013
Seveth-Inning Stretch, curated by Carlo McCormick & Eric Firestone, Eric Firestone Gallery, East Hampton, New York
Aftermodernism, curated by Hubert Neumann, The Nassau County Museum of Art, Long Island, New York, Unites States of America
Hello Nasty, curated by Chris Bors, Cindy Rucker Gallery, New York, Unites States of America
The Wild Bunch, Gallery Poulsen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Die Wunderkammer, curated by Keith Schweitzer and Jason Patrick Voegele, The Lodge, New York, Unites States of America
Weird World, (with Don Porcello & Toru Ishii), ISE Cultural Foundation, New York, Unites States of America
How Much Do I Owe You?, curated by Manon Slome & No Longer Empty, New York, United States of America
About Face, curated by Daniel Weinberg, ACME gallery, Los Angeles
Double Dirty Dozen, Frieght + Volume Gallery, New York, United States of America
It’s Hard to Leave When You Can’t Find the Door, LaMontagne Gallery, Boston
Disorder, Kravets/Wehby Gallery, New York, United States of America
Come and Get It!, Herdershot Gallery, New York, United States of America
The Wicked Twins: Fame and Notoriety, Paul Robeson Galleries, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey
Drawn To You, Gallery Poulsen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Good Intentions, Hezi Cohen Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel
MIE: A Portrait by 35 Artists, Curated by Nick Lawrence and Mie Iwatsuki, Frieght +Volume, New York City
2011
From Where You Just Arrived, organized by Ryan Schneider & Jonas Wood, Pepin Moore, Los Angeles
Die Like You Really Mean It, curated by Frank Webster & Paul Brainard, Allegra LaViola Gallery, New York, United States of America
MAKE Skateboards, curated by Scott Ogden, i-20 Gallery, New York, United States of America
Bitches Brew (New Art from New York 2), Gallery Poulsen, Copenhagen, Denmark
SICK!, curated by Meghan Carleton and Max Wolf, Misc., New York, United States of America
Pornucopia, Allegra LaViola Gallery, New York, United States of America
Battle of the Brush, curated by Alex Glauber, Bryant Park, New York, United States of America
2010
Xmas Show, Gallery Poulsen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Three Amigos: Tom Sanford, Eric White & Nicola Verlota, Galleri S.E., Bergen, Norway
RUN AND TELL THAT!: New Work from New York, curated by Eric Gleason and David Prince, SUart Galleries, Syracuse University, New York, United States of America
The Incomplete – Paris, curated by Hubert Neumann, GALERIE JEAN-LUC+TAKAKO RICHARD, Paris, France
50 Ways to Keep Your Lover, Galleri S.E., Bergen, Norway.
BIG PICTURE, Priska C. Juschka Fine Art, New York, United States of America
Irascible Assholes, Gallery Poulsen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Currents – Benjamin Edwards, Jessica Jackson Hutchins & Tom Sanford, Nassau County Museum of Art, Long Island, New York, United States of America
BUSHWICK SCHLACHT, curated by Guillermo Creus
The Antidote, Claire Oliver Fine Art, New York, United States of America
Never Can Say Goodbye, Tower Record/No Longer Empty, New York, United States of America
2009
TOO BIG TO FAIL, NADA/LaMontagne Gallery, 375 Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
No Longer Empty 3, The Invisible Dog, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
Low Blow: And Other Species of Confusion, Stux Gallery, New York, United States of America
Summer Exhibition, Marlborough Gallery, New York, United States of America
Luxus – Ruhe – Wollust. Arbeiten auf Papier, Galerie Michael Schultz, Berlin
2008
In Your Face, Buia Gallery, New York, United States of America
The Main Event, Schroeder Romero, New York, United States of America
Leisure Suite, curated by Martin Basher, Neiman Center, Columbia University, New York, United States of America
Accrochage, Galleri Faurschou, Copenhagen, Denmark
2007
No New Tale To Tell….,31 GRAND, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
The Incomplete, curated by Hubert Neumann, Chelsea Art Museum, New York, United States of America
Heroes…Like us?, Palazzo delle Arti, Naples, Italy
Dangerous Beauty, Chelsea Art Museum, New York, United States of America
2006
Reflections (20 Year Anniversary), Galleri Faurschou, Copenhagen, Denmark
Celebrity, Sixtyseven Gallery, New York, United States of America
2005
Star-Star: Toward the Center of Attention, Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
Self Preservation Society, Leo Koenig Inc., New York, United States of America
Leaving Cockaigne, Leo Koenig Inc., New York, United States of America
2004
The Beautiful Ones, 31 GRAND, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
Rowdy Remix, ATM Gallery, New York, United States of America
Super Salon, Samson Projects, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
2002
Derivative, curated by Sarah Rosenbaum, Bingo Hall, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
Enough About Me, curated by Deborah Kass, Momenta, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
2001
EyeSaw, Ledeco Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1999
Size Matters, Gale Gates et al., Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
The Road Show, curated by Mike Wiess, dfn Gallery, New York, United States of America
1998
Surfing the Surface, dfn Gallery, New York, United States of America
WORKS
Tom Sanford, A Bird in the Hand is Beats Two in the Hole, 2017, acrylic on canvas, 100.5×149.5 cm
Tom Sanford, Uptown Local, 2018-2019, acrylic on canvas, 180×180×4 cm
