Beau Thomas' Art
Artist Statement:
Eroding cliffs cascade down to the ocean, exposing thin slices of pebbly beach. I often clamber through their jagged crevices or meander along the relaxing expanse of ochre sand. Fine droplets of salty water permeate through the crisp morning air as crashing waves churn pieces of matter from the depths. Glistening reflections of the sun dance on the surface of a turquoise bay. Undulating silhouettes of kelp hint at the bounty of life below the surface.
I create found object sculptures & mixed media paintings by sourcing natural materials and then transforming them to achieve new textures and patterns within my work. I incorporate the environment into my artistic process and create a unique narrative around different ecological disasters. My artistic process involves a period of introspection, followed by an act of faith where I venture out into the unknown through the use of new materials and techniques. I aim to refine and transform the naturally sourced materials, highlighting some of it’s less known qualities with the use of pattern and texture. Reflecting on the process and connecting aspects of the experience to moments within my work is how I conceptualize and develop the different narratives at play.
The resulting artworks are swelling, bright paintings, and bulbus sculptural forms that give a sense of the natural world being interrupted and torn by toxic matter. Waves of texture create the perfect stage for light and shadow to dance upon. Through the inextricable merger of the synthetic and the organic in my artwork, I allude to a new reality that cannot be filtered.
Bio:
Beau Thomas is an artist from Morgan Hill, CA. He received his B.A. in Visual and Public Art from California State University Monterey Bay in 2019 and his MFA in Art from Mills College in 2021. He was an Artist-in-Residence at the Monterey Regional Waste Management District Fellowship in 2019 and currently lives and works in Oakland, CA.
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Education:
Education:
M.F.A. in Studio Art from Mills College (2021)
B.A. in Visual & Public Arts from California State University Monterey Bay (2019)
Residencies:
2019 Monterey Regional Waste Management District Artist-in-Residence Fellowship, Visual and Public Art Program at California State University Monterey Bay, Monterey Bay, Seaside, Ca.
Exhibitions:
Exhibiting Artist, Feb. 14th 2018 - Museum of Art & History, Santa Cruz, Ca.
March 2018 – Site Specific 6 Exhibition at California State University Monterey Bay, Monterey Bay, Seaside, Ca.
September 29th & 30th 2018 – Monterey County’s 28th Annual Artists Open Studio Tour, Visual and Public Art Department, California State University, Monterey Bay, Seaside, Ca.
2018, "2nd Annual Monterey County Studio Tour at East Garrison," In conjunction with CSUMB's Visual & Public Art Dept. & Arts Habitat, East Garrison, CA
April 2019, Site Specific Seven Exhibition, Visual and Public Art Department, California State University, Monterey Bay, Seaside, Ca.
May 2019, Capstone Exhibition, Visual and Public Art Department, California State University, Monterey Bay, Seaside, Ca.
May 2019, Monterey Regional Waste Management District Artist-in- Residence Exhibition, Marina, Ca.
November 2019, “Press Play” Exhibition, Mills College, Oakland, Ca.
December 2019, “The Offices of..” Exhibition, Visual and Public Art Department, California State University, Monterey Bay, Seaside, Ca.
February 2020, “S.O.S.” Exhibition, Mills College, Oakland, Ca.
Symposiums:
2018 Media Culture Symposium, Visual and Public Art Department, California State University, Monterey Bay, Seaside, Ca.
November 2019, “Artist Talk”, Visual and Public Art Department, California State University, Monterey Bay, Seaside, Ca.
October 2020, "Visiting Artist" Mills College, Oakland, Ca.
March 2021, "Artist Talk" Las Positas College, Ca
Press:
Oct 9, 2020 - Environmental Affairs Committee Newsletter
Aug 6, 2018 – Boston Voyager Article “Art & Life with Beau Thomas”
Nov 2017 – KSBW 8 interview - Salinas Art Intervention Project
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