Thomas Swanston
In my current body of paintings, the overarching theme of migration carries a multitude of connotations; most notably, migration speaks to the mystical movement through space and time, from one location to another and the ultimate return home. The recurring patterns of sandhill crane migrations remind us of nature’s ability to renew and revive itself, rhythmically changing, yet remaining stable and consistent through the seasons. Such is also the human life, changing with each year and each generation. Like migratory birds, physical and spiritual travelers alike explore new or familiar places, always to return to the one special locale that they call “home.” In their seasonal trips from North to South and then back, and in their victorious return from near extinction back into the cycle of life, sandhill cranes remind the viewer that all journeys have a purpose and an end, no matter how long they might be or how far away from home they may take us.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2020: Thomasville Center For The Arts, Thomasville, GA
2018: Thornwood Gallery, Houston, TX
Soren Christensen, New Orleans, LA
The Umstead (December), Raleigh, NC
2015: Sense Fine Art, Menlo Park, CA
Soren Christensen Gallery, New Orleans, LA
2014: Bill Lowe Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2013: Soren Christensen Gallery, New Orleans, LA
Bill Lowe Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2011: Flanders Gallery, Raleigh, NC
2010: Bill Lowe Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Flanders Gallery / The Umstead, Raleigh, NC
2008: Lowe Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2005: Lowe Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Lowe Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2002: Horizon Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2001: Horizon Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2000: Barkin Leeds, Atlanta, GA
1997: Lowe Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Gomez Gallery, Baltimore, MD
Lowe Gallery, Atlanta, GA
1993: M-13 / Project Room, New York, NY
Harb’s, Lexington, VA
Municipal Gallery, Atlanta, GA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024: Gruen Galleries, Chicago, IL
2023: Gruen Galleries, Chicago, IL
2018: Visions West, Denver, CO
Sense Fine Art, Meno Park, CA
2017: Soren Christensen Gallery, Selections, New Orleans, LA
Visions West, Denver, CO
Thornwood Gallery, Houston, TX
Sense Fine Art, Menlo Park, CA
2016: Bill Lowe Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Soren Christensen Gallery, Summer Group, New Orleans, LA
2015: Terminus, Atlanta, GA
Soren Christensen Gallery, New Orleans, LA
Thornwood Gallery, Houston, TX
Horizon Gallery, Jackson Hole, WY
2014: Soren Christensen Gallery, New Orleans, LA
Lowe Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Horizon Fine Art, Jackson Hole, WY
J Costello Gallery, Hilton Head, SC
2013: Paderewski Fine Art, Beaver Creek, CO
2012: Watson McCrae Gallery, “Peaceable Kingdom”, Sanibel, FL
Soren Christensen Gallery, New Orleans, LA
Lowe Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Paderewski Fine Art, Beaver Creek, CO
2011: Horizon Gallery, Jackson Hole, WY
Soren Christensen Gallery, New Orleans, LA
Abernathy Arts Center, Atlanta, GA
Fairhope Unitarian, Fairhope, AL
2010: Soren Christensen, New Orleans, LA
2009: George Segal Gallery, “Art Connections 5”, Montclair, NJ
Lyon & Lyon Fine Art, New Orleans, LA
2007: Audubon Artists Annual, New York, NY
Lowe Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Soho Myriad, “Pink”, Atlanta, GA
2005: Lowe Gallery, “16th Anniversary”, Atlanta, GA
707 Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM
Soho Myriad, “A Common Thread”, Atlanta, GA
2004: Lowe Gallery, Atlanta, GA
707 Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM
2003: Atlanta Cow Parade, Atlanta, GA
Studio Eleven, Lexington, VA
The Studio, Middleburg, VA
Barkin Leeds, “Can You Hear It?”, Atlanta, GA
2000: Handsel Gallery, “White”, Santa Fe, NM
Lenox, “Wax Works: 5 Encaustic Artists from GA”, Atlanta, GA
1999: Twinhouse Gallery, “Visions of the Land”, Atlanta, GA
City Gallery East, “Fire”, Atlanta, GA
1998: Holter Museum of Art, “ANA 27”, Helena, MT
King Shaw Gallery, King Plow Arts Center, Atlanta, GA
Alexandria Museum, “16th Annual”, Alexandria, LA
The Bank, Atlanta, GA
Georgia State University, Ernest G. Welch School of Art,
Atlanta, GA
Art Institute of Atlanta, Charles Janssen Gallery,
Atlanta, GA
1996: Muscarelle Museum of Art, “American Drawing Biennial”,
Williamsburg, VA
1995: Stanback Museum, Columbia, SC
McIntosh Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Gibbes Museum, “Northern Seeds - Southern Soil”,
Charleston, SC
City Gallery East, “Revival of the Figure”, Atlanta, GA
1994: Haggin Museum, “National Print and Drawing Exhibition”,
Stockton, CA
Spazi Contemporary Arts Center, “Small Works”, Housatonic, MA
1993: Hastings Seed Building, “The November Show”, Atlanta, GA
Fay Gold Gallery, “Exceptional New Artists”, Atlanta, GA
Beaverton Arts Commission, “Showcase ‘93”, Beaverton, OR
Galerie Mesa, “Drawn to Extreme”, Mesa, AZ
Columbia College, “Paper in Particular National Exhibit”,
Columbia, MO
Artsquad, “Contemporary American Drawing”, Easton, PA
Fay Gold Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Sheppard College, “Works on Paper ‘92”, Sheppardstown, WV
University of Richmond, “National Works on Paper”,
Richmond, VA
Haggin Museum, “National Print and Drawing Exhibition”,
Stockton, CA
SW Texas State University, “21st Annual Works on Paper”, San
Marcos, TX
Museum without Walls, “Depth and Diversity in Recent America”,
Bemus, NY
1991: The Lowe Gallery, “Southern Visions”, Atlanta, GA
Exhibit ‘A’ Gallery, “Small Works”, Atlanta, GA
King Plow Arts Center, “The Mattress Factory Exhibit”,
Atlanta, GA
1990: The Lowe Gallery, “Inner Visions of Space and Time”, Atlanta,
GA
Parsons School of Design, “Ten Years Later”, New York, NY
1988: Urban Institute for Contemporary Art, Grand Rapids, MI
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2011: Clinton Smith, “Designer Showhouse”, Atlanta Homes &
Lifestyles (Feb)
2008: Clinton Smith, “The Mansion,” Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles
(August)
Georgia Dzurica, “Green EcoManor: Sustainable Style,”
Veranda Magazine (May-June)
Lori Johnston, “Designs for Life and Work that
Intertwine,”
Atlanta Journal-Constitution (March 20)
LaTria Garnigan, “Painting the Town,” South Fulton
Neighbor (March 19)
Rumaan Alam, “Three Green Homes,” Domino Magazine (March)
Clinton Smith. “Summer Simplicity: 2008 Designer
Showhouse.” Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles (Summer)
2007: Factory Girl. Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine (July)
Reinventing the Green House. Garden and Gun (Spring)
Building Green. The Atlanta-Journal Constitution (February
1)
2006: Golden, Nichole. StudioSwan Features “new works.” The
Newnan Times-Herald (November 17)
Campanella, Thomas J. A Workable Utopia. Metropolis (June
2006)
Lerner, Jonathan. Rustic Revolution in the Hill Country.
Atlanta Peach Magazine (Winter)
Thomas, Mary Booth. Location, Location, Location. The
Atlanta- Journal Constitution (September 9) Image and
listing.
More To Do. The Ledger-Enquirer (May 4)Image and write-up.
Artist to Demonstrate at Pasaquan. The Tri-Country Journal
(May 3)
2005: Frank, Peter. Go: Gail Foster, Thomas Swanston, Tremain
Smith.
The LA Weekly (October 21-27)
Harral, Alyse. Blood, Sweat & Trim. Atlanta Homes and
Lifestyles (October)
Laughinghouse, Amy. White Hot. Atlanta Homes and
Lifestyles
(March)
2004: Cullum, Jerry. A Blending of Styles, The Atlanta Journal-
Constitution (September)
Gleim, Sarah. Double Take for Art’s Sake, Atlanta
Magazine’s Home (Fall)
Pendley Koser, Karin. An Art Museum within Its Walls, A+
(Spring)
2003: Pendley Koser, Karin. Unconventional Art at the Georgia
International Convention Center, Supplement to Atlanta
Business Chronicle (March)
Cullum, Jerry. Art Seen and Heard, The Atlanta Journal
Constitution (January)
2001: Cullum, Jerry. Hot Spots, Georgia, Art Papers (July/August)
Jones, Jennifer. Bridging the Gap–With Art. The Northside
Neighbor (May)
Klausner, Debra. Helping Children across the Bridge, The
Gazette (May)
2000: Fox, Catherine. Minding Their Beeswax, The Atlanta Journal
(September 15)
Blaise, Oma. Two of a Kind, Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles
(September)
Cullum, Jerry. Words help forge a fiery intensity, The
Atlanta Journal (June 18)
1998: Frank, Peter. Ana 27-National Juried Exhibition, Holter
Museum of Art Exhibition Catalogue
Cullum, Jerry. Pleasure and Personal Pilgrimage, (Lowe
Gallery) Exhibtion Catalogue
Dorsey, John. Paintings Suggest Grasping At Fog,
Baltimore Sun, (March 7)
Guiliano, Mike. In the Abstract, City Paper, (March 12)
1995: Blaise, Oma. People, Short Takes, Atlanta Homes and
Lifestyles
(November)
Locke, Donald. Visual Arts Review, Creative Loafing
(October 4)
Cullum, Jerry, Figuratively Speaking, The Atlanta
Constitution (September 29)
Schwartz, Carolan. Revival of the Figure, (City Gallery
East) Exhibition Catalogue
Carey, Erika. A Sense of Place, (Gibbes Museum of Fine Arts)
Exhibition Catalogue
Day, Jeffrey. Artists reveal Transformation after
Transplantation, The State (July 2)
Greenberg, Suzie. The Yankees are Coming!, The Herald,
(June 29-July 12)
Cullum, Jerry. Sedate November a Worthwhile Experience, The
Atlanta Constitution (November 17)
Prochaska, Tom. Showcase ’93: (Beaverton Arts Commission)
Exhibition Catalogue
Jinkner-Lloyd, Amy. Set & Subset, Creative Loafing
(September 3)
Cullum, Jerry. Visual Arts Review, The Atlanta
Constitution (March 19)
1992: Trader, Beverly. So Long Soho, Atlanta Magazine (March 19)
1991: Ruhstaller, Todd. Stockton National, (Haggin Museum) Exhibition
Catalogue
Carbrey, Agnes. The Lexington News-Gazette (July 24)
1990: Levy, David. Ten Years Later, (Parson’s School of design)
Exhibition Catalogue
1987: Perry, Pam. Urban & Endangered Landscape Engineering, Creative
Loafing (December 8)
STUDIES
1980: Parsons School of Design, Master of Fine Art, New York, NY
1978: Hobart College, Bachelor of Art, Geneva, NY
1977: New York Studio School, New York, NY
RESIDENCIES / GRANTS / AWARDS
2017: Fulton County Direct Purchase Award, Atlanta, GA
2012: The Hambidge Center, Rabun Gap, GA
2007: The Hambidge Center, Rabun Gap, GA
2005: The Hambidge Center, Rabun Gap, GA
1978: Ford Foundation Grant, New York, NY
Helena Rubenstein Foundation Grant, New York, NY
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
1994: Great Lakes College Association, NY Arts Program, Seminar
New York, NY
Kennesaw State College, Adjunct Assistant Professor
Atlanta, GA
1993-4: Gordon College, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Barnsville, GA
1982-9: Swanston Fine Arts, Inc., Owner, Atlanta, GA
1980-2: Institute College of Art, Visiting Lecturer
Baltimore, MD
1978-80: Benevy Frames, New York, NY
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Almaty Esentai Park, Almaty, Kazakhstan
1010 Midtown Condominiums, Atlanta, GA
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston MA
The Mansion, Atlanta, GA
Alston Bird, Atlanta, GA
Marco Island Spa, Marco Island, FL
Ansley Country Club, Atlanta, GA
Marriott, Austin, TX
Marriott, Orlando, FL
Marriott, New Orleans, LA
Atlantis III, Paradise Island, Bahamas
Callaway Gardens, Pine Mt. GA
Chicago Intercontinental, Chicago, IL
JW Marriott, Washington DC
Childress Klein Properties, Atlanta, GA
Mass Mutual, Boston, MA
Disney Yacht Club, Orlando, FL
Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, CT
DLA Piper, Atlanta, GA
Northside Hospital, Women’s Center, Atlanta, GA
Drew, Eckill & Farnham, Atlanta, GA
Liberty Mutual, Boston, MA
Omni Hotel at CNN Center, Atlanta, GA
EDL & Associates, Atlanta, GA
Raines and Raines, New York, NY
Embassy Suites Hotel, Lombard, IL
Richmond Hyatt Regency, Richmond, VA
Epstein, Becker & Green, Boston, MA
Ritz-Carlton, Coconut Grove, FL
Ethan Allen International, Danbury, CT
Ritz-Carlton, Dubai
Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne, FL
Euro Disney, Paris, France
Ritz-Carlton, Ocoee, GA
Fannie Mae, Atlanta, GA
Ritz-Carlton, Naples, FL
Fleishman-Hillard, Atlanta, GA
Ritz-Carlton, Osaka, Japan
Four Seasons, Jackson Hole, WY
Four Seasons, Palo Alto, CA
Four Seasons, Marrakech, Morocco
Frito-Lay, Atlanta, GA
Ritz-Carlton, Shenzhen, China
GE E-Commerce, Atlanta, GA
Rollins Sch. Public Health, Emory Univ., Atlanta, GA
General Service Administration – PNH, Atlanta, GA
Saks Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Goizueta Schl. Of Business, Emory, Atlanta, GA
Scient, Atlanta, GA
Grady Hospital,9A, Atlanta, GA
Sterling Drug, Philadelphia, PA
Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC
Raffles, Istanbul, Turkey
Hartsfield International Airport, Atlanta, GA
SunTrust Corporation, Atlanta, GA
Henderson’s Wharf, Baltimore, MD
The Peninsula, Chicago, IL
Toronto Intercontinental, Toronto, Canada
Hilton Anatole, Dallas, TX
Tremont Plaza, Baltimore, MD
Hilton Hotels, Atlanta GA
W Hotel, Buckhead, Atlanta, GA
Lotte, Seoul, Korea
W Hotel Midtown, Atlanta, GA
Insignia Centennial Tower, Atlanta, GA
The Waldorf Astoria, New York, NY
IDI, Atlanta, GA
Westin Hotel, St. John USVI
IXL Enterprises, Atlanta, GA
Westin Hotel, Hilton Head, SC
King Plow Arts Center, Atlanta, GA
XL, Pembroke, Bermuda
Yinchuan Kempinski, Beijing, China
Appleton Partners, Boston, MA
FILM & VIDEO
“X-Men: Apocalypse”, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence
”Cell”, John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, Isabelle Fuhrman
“Being Mary Jane”, 1 Season
“Drop Dead Diva”, 3 Seasons
“The Clearing”, Robert Redford, Helen Mirren. Willem DeFoe
“Angel from Montgomery”, Willie Nelson, Toby Keith, Burt Reynolds, Kelly Robinson
“Fled”; Laurence Fishburne, Stephen Baldwin, Salma Hayek
MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS
2009-2012: Alliance of Artists Communities: Board Member
2005-2013: Serenbe Institute; Board Member
2007-2017: Founder; Past Chair, AIR Serenbe; Board Member
2010-2013: Founder; Fine Arts Workshop