Thomas Chapman (1975, San Diego) has experimented with an array of shapes and forms to support his layered imagery. Found fabrics, collage, stolen typographies, markers, paint, pencil markings, glue and many other elements comprise the surface of his paintings. For almost 20 years shaped canvases have occupied a prominent place in his creative output which also includes wall reliefs, and interactive sculptures. The unorthodox shapes of some of Chapman’s early canvases are inspired by  a variety of themes ranging from astronomy, mythology, and other sources of ancient history.  An unconventional  approach towards painting supports and many layers of sometimes conflicting visual information are common features of Chapman’s diverse oeuvre. The artist’s recent 'Lake Paintings' signal a return to figuration and his interest in subjects that have to do with leisure and everyday life. 

 

Thomas Chapman received his BFA in Drawing and Painting from Louisiana State University (1998). Recent solo exhibitions include: Flow (Florian Christopher Gallery, Zurich, Germany, 2014), Thomas Chapman-Glisten (PSM Gallery, Berlin, Germany, 2013), The Fruit of the Warm Whole Chapel (PSM Gallery, Berlin, Germany, 2010), Igor and the Rattle Snake Solar Sound System in collaboration with Nik Nowak (Infernoesque, Berlin, Germany, 2009), Thomas Chapman (Galerie Christine Mayer, Munich, Germany, 2004). Selected group shows include: Thomas Chapman & Miroslav Tichý: Leisure Surveillance (Villa Magdalena, San Sebastián, Spain, 2022), Zeitvertreib (Kunstverein Arnesberg, Arnesberg, Germany, 2022), Unknown (curated by Julian Schnabel) (The Ludwig Museum, Koblenz, Germany, 2016), Einknicken oder Kante zeigen. Die Kunst der Faltung (Museum für Konkrete Kunst, Ingolstadt, Germany, 2014), Luna/Proxy/Fire/Snow #1 (Galerie Gebr. Lehmann, Dresden, Germany, 2010), In the No (Andrew Edlin Gallery, New York City, USA , 2009). He lives and works in Berlin, Germany.