Trapped Tensions

Tomas Watson

Study for Internal Exterior olio su lino 60cm x 70cm

Ho conosciuto per la prima volta il lavoro di Tomas Watson circa dieci anni fa a Londra, era un disegno a carboncino raffigurante una figura femminile su un pavimento piastrellato. Purtroppo, allora non comprai quel disegno e me ne sono sempre pentito, è rimasto nei miei pensieri come “the one that got away”. Da quel giorno fortunatamente ho avuto molte altre occasioni, che non mi sono più fatto scappare, per acquistare disegni e quadri di Tomas Watson. E’ stato un immenso piacere collezionare le opere di Tomas durante questi anni e vedere il suo lavoro evolvere e crescere. Sono rimasto basito quando con Tomas abbiamo discusso la possibilità di lavorare insieme e di poter essere il rappresentante della sua opera in Italia.

Study for Doorway I olio su tela 120cm x 100cm

Esistono molti pittori figurativi che lavorano ad olio, ma Tomas è molto più di solo questo. Ha la capacità unica di dipingere figure di carne, muscoli e ossa in un modo straordinariamente realistico - una capacità acquisita durante i suoi studi di anatomia a Londra. Tomas poi va anche oltre, unisce, alle sue figure classiche, colori forti e sfondi che cambiano, creando così nei sui dipinti un’atmosfera estremamente contemporanea.

Woman with Yellow olio su lino 70cm x 60cm

A Back olio su lino 70cm x 60cm

Doorway olio su lino 70cm x 60cm

Study for Doorway II olio su tela 120cm x 100cm

Durante la preparazione di questa mostra, non avevo idea di ciò che Tomas mi avrebbe proposto. Non è un artista che necessita o richiede consigli o un riscontro, né durante la preparazione di una esibizione, né sul risultato, quindi non ho visto nessuna delle sue opere fino al compimento dell'esibizione (ammetto che non è stato facile per me!). Durante questi mesi ho provato, in realtà, a dirigere dolcemente Tomas verso un’idea generale della mostra, ma la sua risposta è stata che nemmeno lui sapeva cosa avrebbe prodotto finché non avesse iniziato a lavorarci sopra - “una volta avviati, sono i dipinti stessi a scegliere dove andare”. Questo tipo di fiducia nei dipinti si acquisisce solo dopo molti anni di lavoro e di numerose mostre in tutto il Regno Unito, Stati Uniti e Canada. Portando avanti il suo lavoro da tanti anni è divenuto un artista molto riconosciuto e affermato, diventando così profondamente amato dai collezionisti.

Internal Exterior olio su tela 150cm x 135cm

Blue Movement olio su lino 70cm x 60cm

Il talento di Tomas ha avuto un ulteriore riconoscimento con l’assegnazione dell'importante BP Portrait Award presso la National Portrait Gallery di Londra. A questo è seguita una commissione, dalla National Portrait Gallery (NPG), che ha portato Tomas ad avere un suo dipinto nel collezione permanete del museo. È un grande piacere per Accesso Galleria esporre le opere di Tomas Watson. Dopo aver conosciuto il suo lavoro e Tomas personalmente per tanti anni, l'opportunità di lavorare con lui e di portare questa mostra a Pietrasanta, e in Italia, per la prima volta è un momento di grande orgoglio.

Blue Morning olio su tela 150cm x 135cm

Study for Blue Morning olio su lino 60cm x 70cm

English translation I first discovered Tomas Watson’s work about 10 years ago in London when I saw a remarkable charcoal drawing of a female figure on a tiled floor. Unfortunately I did not buy the drawing when I had the chance and I have regretted not doing so ever since – It is truly “the one that got away”. Since that time I have luckily had other opportunities to purchase paintings and drawings by Tomas Watson and these I have not missed. It has been a great joy collecting Tomas’ work over these years and seeing his work evolve and grow. I was thrilled when Tomas and I discussed the possibility of working together and being the representative of his work in Italy. Many artists are figurative oil painters but Tomas is much more. He has the unique ability to paint figures of flesh, muscle and bones in a remarkably life-like manner – an acute skill attained after studying anatomy in London. Tomas then goes even further as he mixes these classical, contorted figures with bold colours and backgrounds, which change his classical figurative style paintings into remarkably contemporary pieces of work. In preparing for this show, I had no idea what works Tomas would produce me. Tomas is an artist who does not require nor want much input or feedback on his process nor his finished results and therefore I saw nothing until the show was finished (this is not easy for me!). I did In fact try, at one point, to gently direct Tomas for the show and his reply was that even he would not know what he would produce until he started and got down to work in his studio - He said “once I start, the paintings themselves decide where to go.” This sort of confidence in his paintings comes after many years of producing numerous shows around the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. By working at his art for so many years, he has become very established and recognised for his accomplishments and in so doing has become widely and deeply collected. Tomas’ talent was also recognised when he won the important BP Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery in London. In winning this prize, he was commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) to paint a portrait that is now in the museum’s permanent collection. It is a great pleasure for Accesso Galleria to represent the works of Tomas Watson. After knowing his work and Tomas personally for so many years, the opportunity to now work with him and to bring this show to Pietrasanta and Italy for the first time is a very proud moment for us.

Curriculum 1971 Born, Sussex 1989 - 90 Huddersfield Technical College, Yorkshire 1990 - 94 Slade School of Fine Art, London 1993 - 94 Anatomy for Artists, University College, London Solo Exhibitions 1993 The Pearson Building, University College, London 1997 ‘One Year in Nisyros’, Zosimopoulio Building, Nisyros, Greece ‘Painting in Nisyros’, The Epavli, Rhodes, Greece ‘Paintings and Drawings’, The Silogos, Astypalaia, Greece 1999 ‘Bathers’, Jill George Gallery, London 2001 ‘New Paintings’, Jill George Gallery, London 2003 ‘Shadow and Light’, Jill George Gallery, London 2004 Keller & Greene Gallery, Los Angeles, California, USA 2005 ‘Aspects’, Jill George Gallery, London 2006 Works on Paper, Jill George Gallery, London 2007 ‘Reconstructed Fragments’, Jill George Gallery, London 2009 ‘Drawing Paintings’, Jill George Gallery, London 2011 ‘Flat Space’, Jill George Gallery, London 2012 ‘Trapped Tensions’ Accesso Galleria, Pietrasanta, Italy Exhibitions 1993 ‘Stoves’, Group Show, The Orangery, Holland Park, London ‘Three Artists from the Slade’, Kirkgate Gallery, Kirkgate, Huddersfield 1994 Degree Show, Slade School of Fine Art, London ‘Art Forum’, Group Show, 120 Broad Street, London 1995 ‘Prisoners from Abroad’, Charity Group Show, Mall Galleries, London 1997 BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London ‘AENAON’, Group Show, celebrating 50 years of the Dodecanese ‘The Discerning Eye’, Mall Galleries, London 1998 ‘The Figure Show’, Jill George Gallery, London BP National Portrait Exhibition, National Portrait Gallery, London ‘Associations’, Jill George Gallery, London 20th Century Art Fair, London (Jill George Gallery) 1999 ‘The Figure Show’, Jill George Gallery, London Art 99, Business Design Centre, London (Jill George Gallery) Santa Fe Art Fair, Santa Fe, USA (Jill George Gallery) 20th Century Art Fair, Royal College of Art, London (Jill George Gallery) 2000 ‘2K, 2K’, Jill George Gallery, London Art 2000, Business Design Centre, London (Jill George Gallery) 20/21 British Art Fair, Royal College of Art, London (Jill George Gallery) Toronto International Art Fair, Canada (Jill George Gallery) 2001 Art 2001, London (Jill George Gallery) ‘The Figure Show’, Jill George Gallery, London 20/21 British Art Fair, Royal College of Art, London (Jill George Gallery) Toronto International Art Fair, Canada (Jill George Gallery) San Francisco International Art Exposition, USA (Jill George Gallery) 2002 Art 2002, London (Jill George Gallery) Launch of BP Portrait Prize of John Fowles, National Portrait Gallery, London Art Chicago 2002, Chicago, USA (Jill George Gallery) ‘The Monoprint Show’, Jill George Gallery, London San Francisco International Art Exposition, USA (Jill George Gallery) 2003 Art 2003, London (Jill George Gallery) ‘London Calling’, Keller & Greene, Los Angeles, USA Art Chicago 2003, Chicago, USA (Jill George Gallery)

2003 Art London 2003, Burton’s Court, Chelsea (Jill George Gallery) 20/21 British Art Fair, Commonwealth Institute, London (Jill George Gallery) Toronto International Art Fair, Canada (Jill George Gallery) 2004 London Art Fair, Art 2004 (Jill George Gallery) ‘The Figure Show’, Jill George Gallery, London Art Chicago, Chicago, USA (Jill George Gallery) Art London, Burton’s Court, Chelsea (Jill George Gallery) 20/21 British Art Fair, Royal College of Art, London (Jill George Gallery) 2005 London Art Fair, ART 2005 (Jill George Gallery) ‘The Figure Show’, Jill George Gallery, London Art Chicago, Chicago, USA, (Jill George Gallery) Art London 2005, Burton’s Court Chelsea (Jill George Gallery) 20/21 British Art Fair, Royal College of Art, London (Jill George Gallery) 2006 London Art Fair, ART 2006 (Jill George Gallery) ‘The Figure Show’, Jill George Gallery, London Art Madrid, Casa de Campo, Madrid, Spain Art Chicago, Chicago, USA, (Jill George Gallery) 20/21 British Art Fair, Royal College of Art, London (Jill George Gallery) Toronto International Art Fair, Canada (Jill George Gallery) 2007 London Art Fair, Art 2007, (Jill George Gallery) Art Chicago, Merchandise Mart, Chicago (Jill George Gallery) 20/21 British Art Fair, Royal College of Art, London (Jill George Gallery) Toronto International Art Fair, Canada, (Jill George Gallery) 2008 ‘Figure Show’, Jill George Gallery, London London Art Fair, ART 2008, (Jill George Gallery) ‘The Big Picture Show’, Jill George Gallery, London 20/21 British Art Fair, Royal College of Art, London (Jill George Gallery) Toronto International Art Fair, Canada, (Jill George Gallery) Red Dot, Miami, USA, (Jill George Gallery) 2009 ‘The Figure Show’, Jill George Gallery, London London Art Fair, ART 2009, (Jill George Gallery) Art Chicago, Chicago, USA (Jill George Gallery) 20/21 British Art Fair, Royal College of Art, London, (Jill George Gallery) Toronto International Art Fair, Canada, (Jill George Gallery) 2010 London Art Fair, ART 2010, (Jill George Gallery) ‘Intimacy! Bathing in Art’, Kunstmuseum, Ahlen Germany Art Chicago, Chicago, USA (Jill George Gallery) 20/21 British Art Fair, Royal College of Art, London, (Jill George Gallery) Toronto International Art Fair, Canada, (Jill George Gallery) 2011 London Art Fair, ART 2011, (Jill George Gallery) Art Chicago, Chicago, USA (Jill George Gallery) Awards and commissions 1991 3rd Prize in the ‘Stoves’ exhibition 1994 Robert Ross Scholarship 1994 - 95 Scholarship from the Greek Government to paint in Greece 1995 - 96 Further Scholarship from the Greek Government 1997 BP National Portrait Competition Gavin Graham Gallery Award from Discerning Eye exhibition 1998 BP National Portrait Competition, London - First Prize 2001 Portrait of John Fowles commissioned by National Portrait Gallery, London Portrait of the Master of Clare College, Cambridge

Trapped Tensions

Tomas Watson

Accesso Galleria Brad Brubaker & Paul Feakes Via del Marzocco 12, 55045

Pietrasanta, Italy tel +39 340 410 4004

www.accessogalleria.com