“I am interested in exploring the individual components of the visual experience.  Why and how certain visual combinations affect us in deeply profound ways is the focus of my work.  Without question, I have been most influenced by the work of the Abstract Expressionist painters of the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.  Specifically the “monumental” large-scale paintings of this genre. 

In all my work, a sense of the physical is very important.  Brush in paint, paint on canvas. Exploring how specific combinations of marks and colors affect me in deeply profound ways is the focus of my work today. I refer to my current large-scale paintings as “deconstructed landscapes” and while the starting point is generally inspired by landscape and/or the natural world, my goal is to reconstruct a tactile emotionally-charged experience, driving to the “feeling” of a specific visual experience without the aid of representational symbols or words.”

Tom Hoitsma was raised in New Jersey 15 miles from New York City and pursued a fine arts degree at Skidmore College. While at Skidmore, Tom studied with world-renowned art historian and author Harry Gaugh PhD, who was integral in fostering Tom’s interest and understanding of the abstract expressionist painters.
 

While still attending college, Tom had the opportunity to intern with the celebrated feminist artist Miriam Schapiro. His experience with Schapiro would change the course of his work and continues to influence his painting to this day. After graduating from Skidmore, Tom worked for the prestigious Barbara Gladstone Gallery in New York City.
 

Working in the SOHO New York art scene of the early 1980s introduced Tom to a huge group of up and coming artists including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Cindy Sherman and Jenny Holtzer, all of whom showed at The Barbara Gladstone Gallery. However, his primary influences continue to be the abstract artist he was exposed to in college, under the guidance of Harry Gaugh PhD.