Starry Night

It’s not often that successful contemporary art gallery directors or curators who have academic training in art history, and none in studio art, leave their profession to later return as practicing artists. However, that’s exactly what Tom Kochheiser did.

With academic training in art history, a BA and MA from Ohio State and Oberlin College respectively, and no formal studio art training, everything Tom has learned about making art he has figured out on his own. And the result is outstanding.

Professionally, Tom has worked as a university art gallery director, a lecturer in art history, and a contemporary art museum curator. He left the professional art world in the mid ‘90s to become a stay-at-home dad. Tom then home-schooled his children for 6 years. About four years ago, after Tom’s children enrolled in the Lakewood School system, he began to concentrate on developing a signature style of abstract drawing. He drew every day – a feat many artists struggle with. Last year he transitioned to painting and has produced a large body of watercolor works.

Tom’s art is a visual interpretation of how he views the fundamental energy that underlies the material world. Through pencil and watercolor he transforms chaos into beauty. His paintings lately have involved scientific themes such as astronomy, quantum physics, biological reproduction, and evolution. His painting for the Lakewood Hospital’s Starry Night Fundraiser is Tom’s attempt to capture the energy in Van Gogh’s painting by applying his style of watercolor painting to Van Gogh’s composition. He produced a fragmented and stained glass-like artwork that breaks down Van Gogh’s composition and reassembles it according to his own vision. Remember to look for it when you attend the fundraiser on August 1st.

Tom also has five large scale watercolors hanging at Porcelli’s Bistro in downtown Cleveland. According to Tom it’s provided him with a great opportunity to showcase his work where it is seen by hundreds of restaurant patrons.

Tom is currently exploring other venues to display his work. To learn more about Tom’s work or to commission a piece you can visit his website at http://tomkochheiser.wordpress.com or call him at 216-221-4725.