ARTIST
Tom Hoitsma
Park House Dallas is excited to welcome Dallas-based artist Tom Hoitsma for a mixed media pop-up of his highly visual sculptures and fluid oil paintings.
Tom Hoitsma’s artistic career has been both long and winding, but the route to his latest body of work was clear and direct. After a tornado swept through his Dallas neighborhood in 2019, Hoitsma and his daughter went out to survey the damage. “It was like a war zone,” he remembers. “You see these things on television, but to actually stand in front of your neighbor’s house that has been destroyed, it’s different.”
Through the wreckage, Hoitsma discovered scraps of aluminum gutters, which he then brought back to his studio. Hoitsma bent and colored the pieces to resemble abstract hearts. “I started shaping and repainting them in incredibly joyful shades, inspired by the resiliency of the human spirit,” he recalls. Though metal wall sculptures may seem like a departure from his large abstract paintings, they reflect a return to themes of hope and renewal central to his artistic vision.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Tom Hoitsma was raised in New Jersey, just 15 miles from New York City, and pursued a fine arts degree at Skidmore College. At Skidmore, Tom studied under world-renowned art historian and author Harry Gaugh, PhD, whose guidance was instrumental in deepening his understanding of abstract expressionist painters. Tom also interned with feminist artist Miriam Schapiro and worked at Barbara Gladstone’s Manhattan gallery. His experience with Schapiro profoundly influenced his artistic journey and continues to shape his paintings today. Disillusioned with the 1980s New York City art scene, Tom eventually moved to Texas to pursue a career in television, documentary filmmaking, and music. After years away from visual arts, Tom returned to painting, creating works that resonate deeply with his past influences. Though sculpture was an earlier passion, it took time to establish a studio and acquire the necessary tools to bring his visions to life. In addition to his artistic pursuits, Tom has produced a variety of award-winning music television series, including the ongoing documentary series, The Texas Music Scene, which continues to air nationwide.
To view Tom's catalog of available pieces for sale at Park House,
click here. To view Tom's website,
click here.