There's something about Thom Roberts. He's captivating, can command a room, and importantly, Thom is an accomplished artist at Studio A. He has worked on multiple commissioned pieces and has participated in numerous exhibitions (including three Archibald Prize exhibitions). This is why he was invited alongside Studio A CEO and Artistic Director Gabrielle Mordy to present at the 111th College Arts Association (CAA) Annual Conference in New York City.
The largest convening of art historians, artists, designers, curators, and visual art professionals in the US, the CAA's Annual Conference invites members, committees and affiliated associates to produce a range of content. Studio A was invited to present by Professor Colin D. Rhodes as part of his segment 'Contemporary Art from Supported Studios'. The invitation provided a significant opportunity for Thom to present on an international public platform and emphasise Studio A’s positioning as leaders in the supportive studio space.
Gabrielle and Thom's presentation 'How to be an artist until you are a very old man' showed the pair co-present to describe Studio A's creation, operation, levels of support, and their artist-led collaborative process. I spoke to Gabrielle about the trip to New York City, the presentation, and how she has seen Thom grow both as a person and a professional artist.
Prior to his time at Studio A, Thom was described as a sort of "boundary walker", says Gabrielle.
"He used to walk around the perimeter of the room. He didn't have a big tendency to engage with people, or that was my observation at least."
This comes in stark contrast to the Thom of today. When people first meet Thom, he excitedly welcomes them to Studio A and often offers a crown reading, where he peers into the spiral of hair on top of a person's head. With this information, Thom often bestows a unique "Thom name" (Gabrielle's is Kylie Panther). This is all to say Thom has a presence. He's incredibly personable and always inviting when meeting new people. Gabrielle says these characteristics have always been a part of Thom.
"I think he just needed more support for it to really shine. But again, his art is also his essence, and encouraging Thom to be more of that seems to have affected him".
Gabrielle detailed Studio A, what they do, and the Studio's evolution since 2016. In her words, "Thom turned a dry presentation into a dynamic, alive, fascinating, fun performance."
"I quickly realised how skilled Thom was about talking about his process, how engaged he is with what he's doing and where he is, and how that incredibly unique lens adds so much vibrancy and magic to our world."
With his artistic process, Thom imbues the mundane with the extraordinary. Thom viewed his presentation similarly, creating an engaging, informative, and, most importantly, fun demonstration. "He had everyone laughing, leaning forward. He did it so much better than I could."
Thom has grown to a point where he confidently presents to a group of industry professionals as a peer, which means a lot to Studio A, Gabrielle and Thom himself. Seeing that seed of potential and watching it blossom has been an incredible journey to witness, says Gabrielle.
Thom also recognises this achievement, and after speaking to him, it was immediately apparent how proud he is of his presentation. This was obviously the highlight of his trip, but after a fantastic experience in New York, a few things can't help but come a close second. Trying a different American-style cheeseburger every day, the trains and subway system (which often become Thom's muse in his works), and the MOMA in particular, were some of his favourites. Thom's a professional, but he is also just a person experiencing New York for the first time, in the same way we all want to experience the city that never sleeps for the first time: eating good food, meeting good people and seeing great art.
"To see Thom sit in a Brooklyn bar with other hipsters, have a great time and just be a bloke, a cool average artist, was amazing to see."
The trip even influenced Thom’s next exhibition, Pink Panther Station, with the inclusion of a hard hat featuring the NYC skyline and Thom standing proudly as the Statue of Liberty. This was the first piece Thom created on his return to the studio.
Studio A hopes to see Thom Roberts advance his career as a professional and community leader, continue presenting as an artist, and keep tasting burgers and riding trains worldwide.
"Being in the Archibald makes me happy, smiling and proud. I would like to inspire other people to become a famous artist. I would like to be an artist until I am a very old man." - Thom Roberts.
Words by Sam Kalis.
