Tomma Abts

Tomma Abts is an abstract painter who creates sublime compositions that build on repetitive, geometric elements. Entirely non-representational, the shapes in her paintings are layered in such a way that they appear almost tactile and woven with shadows, texture, and a sense of depth. Described by Artforum as an "artist's artist," Abts works in a way that reflects upon the act of painting itself, with each canvas materially inscribed by her meditative process. As the artist has stated, "I develop something without any preconceptions of what it is going to look like. To give it meaning, I try to define its forms precisely. It becomes, through shadows, texture and other elements, quite physical and therefore 'real.' It is not an image of something else — it doesn't symbolize anything, or describe anything outside of painting. It represents itself."


Abts's work has been the subject of numerous international exhibitions, including solo shows at Kunsthalle Düsseldorf, the New Museum, the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, and the Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven, among others. In 2006, Abts was the recipient of the Turner Prize, awarded annually to a British artist under the age of 50.  


 

SHOWS

Articles

The Artspace Art for Life Interview with Valeria Napoleone
The Artspace Art for Life Interview with Valeria Napoleone
The 27 Best Paintings of NADA Miami Beach 2016
The 27 Best Paintings of NADA Miami Beach 2016
Laura Hoptman's Oral History of New York Painting
Laura Hoptman's Oral History of New York Painting
Laura Hoptman on Good Paintings vs. “Bogus” Ones
Laura Hoptman on Good Paintings vs. “Bogus” Ones
12 Masterpieces of 21st-Century Painting
12 Masterpieces of 21st-Century Painting
See Massimiliano Gioni's 50 Favorite Phaidon Books
See Massimiliano Gioni's 50 Favorite Phaidon Books
CAD Founder Forrest Nash's EXPO Chicago Picks
CAD Founder Forrest Nash's EXPO Chicago Picks
Morgan Falconer on Where Painting Is Going
Morgan Falconer on Where Painting Is Going
The World's Most Influential MFA Programs, Part 2
The World's Most Influential MFA Programs, Part 2
10 Artworks Guaranteed to Fool Your Eye
10 Artworks Guaranteed to Fool Your Eye