Two Chairs Appeared, Tom Schiller, 2018, acrylic on canvas, 35 x 31 in. / 88.9 x 78.74 cm.

Contemplative Spaces in Tom Schiller’s Paintings

May 28, 2024 Gavin Coates

Featured image: Two Chairs Appeared, Tom Schiller, 2018, acrylic on canvas, 35 x 31 in. / 88.9 x 78.74 cm.

Tom Schiller’s art navigates the fascinating interplay between space, color, and concept, capturing both abstract and realist elements with a vibrant palette.

Tom Schiller is a visual artist known for his vibrant use of color and abstract compositions in acrylic paintings. His work often explores themes of space and perception, balancing realist and imaginative elements to reflect on everyday environments and conceptual landscapes.

His work, spanning from conceptual sketches to richly detailed paintings, showcases a journey through both imagined and real environments. Schiller's pieces, particularly from his 2016 and 2023 collections, reveal his evolving exploration of space as a narrative element and his keen insight into the everyday juxtaposed with the fantastical.

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'Empty Parking Lot' by Tom Schiller (2023)

Empty Parking Lot, Tom Schiller, 2023, acrylic on birch panel, 24 x 24 in. / 60.96 x 60.96 cm.

"Empty Parking Lot" stands out with its vivid abstract representation of space, where the original concept of a tennis court transforms into a nuanced composition of shapes and lines. This 24 by 24 inches acrylic on birch panel piece uses a serene palette to craft an almost meditative large-scale space, devoid of human presence but full of potential stories. The transformation of the initial sketch into this final piece exemplifies Schiller’s ability to repurpose and rethink his art, suggesting themes of isolation and contemplation within urban landscapes.

'Interior w/ Painted Table' by Tom Schiller (2016)

Interior w/ Painted Table, Tom Schiller, 2016, acrylic on canvas, 28.5 x 23 in. / 72.39 x 58.42 cm.

Created during a winter stay in Phoenix, "Interior w/ Painted Table" showcases Schiller’s fascination with windows and paintings as parallel forms of viewing and reflecting. This 28.5 by 23 inches acrylic on canvas piece, exhibited at the Northern National in Wisconsin, plays with the concept of the interior as a frame within a frame, using sharp lines and contrasting colors to draw attention to the boundaries between the interior space and the world outside. The artwork invites viewers to ponder the layers of reality and artifice in our daily environments.

'Spare Room' by Tom Schiller (2016)

Spare Room, Tom Schiller, 2016, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 35 in. / 76.2 x 88.9 cm.

In "Spare Room," Schiller captures an almost bare space with minimal furniture, emphasizing the dual meaning of "spare." This 30 by 35 inches acrylic on canvas paints a picture of simplicity and potential, using bright colors and structured composition to focus on the concept of space as both physical and metaphorical. The room’s sparse setting invites interpretation, playing with the viewer’s perception of emptiness versus utility, highlighting Schiller’s thematic exploration of presence and absence within domestic settings.

Tom Schiller’s artworks, ranging from abstract interpretations to meticulously structured interiors, encapsulate a deep engagement with the themes of space, perception, and the boundaries between reality and representation. His use of color and form not only beautifies but also philosophically enriches the spaces he depicts, making each piece a thoughtful reflection on the environments we inhabit and imagine.

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