bubble gums, toilet paper, toothpicks, plastic drinking straws….tom friedman transforms
these ordinary, everyday materials into unexpected and beautiful artworks.
the shows at tomio koyama gallery runs until may 2th, 2009


'green demon', 2008, expanding insulation foam and mixed media
image © tom friedman
courtesy tomio koyama gallery

'many years ago, i was influenced by zen buddhism. i had an epiphany when i heard
the story about the dog. the zen master said to his student, 'it's not it's a dog!…it's just
dog! dog! dog!' to me, the direct experience is what art, even what life, is all about.
subject and object can and do, in those great moments, dissolve into themselves, leaving
us in simple wonder. the direct experience, the thing itself, not something else .' - tom friedman

'i am not myself', ink-jet print on paper collage, 2009
image © tom friedman
courtesy tomio koyama gallery


'island', styrofoam and paint, 2009
image © tom friedman
courtesy tomio koyama gallery


'pencil burst', pencils, 2009
image © tom friedman
courtesy tomio koyama gallery

tom friedman was born in 1965 in st. mouis, MO. he received B.F.A. in graphic illustration at washington
university, st. louis, and M.F.A. in sculpture at university of illinois, chicago. he currently lives and works
in massachusetts. he has exhibited in major museums, such as guggenheim museum, throughout the world.
his most recent solo exhibitions have been held at south london gallery, london, fondazione prada, milan,
museum of contemporary art, chicago, and gagosian gallery, london/ beverly hills. it is the 4th solo
exhibition at tomio koyama gallery after 1998, 2001, and 2004.