ABOUT
ARTIST STATEMENT
"Through my eyes, all art is an abstraction. Reality is only found in nature and the experience of our existence. My
work deals with the emotional narrative of my experience using imagery based on the people, places and events of my
life. Compositions are arranged around formal elements of light, color and shape in ways that reflect my relationship
to the world and objects around us.
Figures and landscapes are often my favorite subject matter. Their presence however, does not guarantee a clear
interpretation of a scene at hand. Often times, this is left to the viewer, who has the opportunity to insert their own
narrative.
My art goes beyond the literal interpretation of a work and is designed to fuel abstract thought. It is my way to help
clarify the reality that is my world."
Thomas Ferraro is an exhibiting artist, teaching artist, painter and cultural advocate who lives and works in Erie, Pa.
He is currently the chair of the Erie Arts and Culture, a member or the Northwest Pennsylvania Artists Association and Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, and is involved in many initiatives related to the arts including education and community development, including Culture Spark and Erie Vital Signs.
work deals with the emotional narrative of my experience using imagery based on the people, places and events of my
life. Compositions are arranged around formal elements of light, color and shape in ways that reflect my relationship
to the world and objects around us.
Figures and landscapes are often my favorite subject matter. Their presence however, does not guarantee a clear
interpretation of a scene at hand. Often times, this is left to the viewer, who has the opportunity to insert their own
narrative.
My art goes beyond the literal interpretation of a work and is designed to fuel abstract thought. It is my way to help
clarify the reality that is my world."
Thomas Ferraro is an exhibiting artist, teaching artist, painter and cultural advocate who lives and works in Erie, Pa.
He is currently the chair of the Erie Arts and Culture, a member or the Northwest Pennsylvania Artists Association and Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, and is involved in many initiatives related to the arts including education and community development, including Culture Spark and Erie Vital Signs.
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Thomas Ferraro 656 W. 9th St., Erie, Pa. 16502 tom_ferraro@msn.com tferraro.com Solo Exhibitions Safety Zone, Erie Art Museum, Holstein Gallery, 2020-2021 #Words#Framed, Octagon Gallery, Patterson Library, Westfield, NY 2019 I Read the News Today, Oh Boy!, Galerie, Erie Insurance Group, Erie, Pa., 2018 Far From Home, Glass Growers Gallery, Erie, Pa., 2017 Another World, Galeria, Erie Insurance Corporate Gallery, 2015 Persons of Interest, Urraro Gallery, Erie, Pa., 2014 Head in the Clouds, Kelly Run Gallery, Cambridge Springs, Pa., 2013 In the Box, Erie Art Museum, Ronald E. Holstein Gallery, Erie, Pa, 2011 Galeria, Erie Insurance Group, Erie, Pa. 2010 Human Nature, Urraro Gallery, Erie, Pa. 2006 Bridges Past and Present, Urraro Gallery, Erie, Pa. 2005 Paintings from my World, Glass Growers Gallery, Erie, Pa. 2004 Two Person Exhibits Side Show by the Seashore, Tom Ferraro and Justus Cotterill, 1020 Holland, Erie, Pa 2010 The Color of Shape, The Shape of Color, Tom Ferraro and Passle Helminski, Urraro Gallery, Erie, Pa 2008 Two Young Artists, Tom Ferraro and Brian Gormley, Kelleher Gallery, NYC, NY 1982 Selected Group Exhibits 108th Associated Artists of Pittsburgh Annual Exhibition, Wendy Given and Ben Owen, jurors, Pittsburgh International Airport, 2021 NPAA Biennial, Erie Art Museum, Paolo Ventura, Juror, 2021 Erie Art Museum, 98th Annual Spring show, Anthony Lugo, Juror, 2021 Erie Art Museum, 97th Annual Spring Show, Aruna D’Souza, Juror, 2020 Barracuda, 1020/ Collective, Three person exhibition, Erie, Pa. 2020 Erie Art Museum, NPAA Biennial, Henry Adams, Juror, Erie, Pa, 2019 Westmorland Museum of American Art, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, 107th Annual Exhibition, Juana Williams, Curator at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Art, Juror, 2019 Erie Art Museum, 96th Annual Spring Show, 2019 Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, 106th Annual Exhibition, Taras W. Matla, Acting Director, University of Maryland Art Gallery, Juror, Pittsburgh, Pa., 2018 Erie Art Museum, 95th Annual Spring Show, Wendy Maruyama, Juror, 2018 Hoyt Art Center, New Castle, Pa, National Juried Exhibition, Reto Thuring, Cleveland Museum of Art, Juror, 2018 NPAA Biennial, West Erie Plaza, Erie, Pa., 2017 Bayfront Gallery, Erie, Pa, 2012-2017 92nd Annual Spring Show, Erie Art Museum, Erie, Pa., 2015 NPAA Biennial, Under the Clock, Boston Store, Erie, Pa., 2015 91st Annual Spring Show, Erie Art Museum, Erie, Pa., 2014 NPAA Biennial at Lovell Place, NPAA invitational exhibition, 2013 Featured Artist, Graffiti Gallery, Oil City, Pa, 2013 Freedom , Cummings Gallery, Mercyhurst University, Invitational Exhibit, 2012 Creative HANDS, NPAA invitational Exhibition, Housing and Neighborhood Development, 2012 Archived Exhibit, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh , David Bowers, Juror, Fein Gallery, Pittsburgh, Pa., juror’s award, 2012 Timeless, Silver Eye Center for Photography, Juror: Amanda Donnan, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pa., July 2012 Panorama, Erie Summer Festival of the Arts, Shuster Gallery, Gannon University, Juried Exhibition, Erie, Pa., June 2012 NPAA Campbell’s Stonewall Gallery, Invitational Exhibition, Venango, Pa, 2012 NPAA Mercyhurst University, Invitational Exhibition, Cummings Gallery, Mercyhurst University, 2012 101st Annual Exhibition, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Society of Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, Pa., Fo Wilson, Juror 2011 Inside/ Outside, Goggleworks, Reading, Pa, 2011 NPAA Biennial, Erie/Meadville, Invitational, 2011 100th Annual Exhibition, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Museum of Art, Al Minor, Donald Miller, jurors, 2010 New Directions’10, Barrett Art Center, 26th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Nat Trotman, juror, Poughkeepsie, NY, 2010 The Mercantile Show, The Mercantile Building, Erie ,Pa 2010 AAP Past/Present, traveling juried exhibit, Seton Hill University, Robert Morris University, Westminister College, 2010 Nuts and Boltz, Northwestern Pennsylvania Artists Association, 1020 Holland, Erie, Pa. 2009 Friends of Mercyhurst, Mercyhurst Old Main, Erie, Pa. 2007-2013 NPAA Winter 2009, Rotunda Gallery, Westfield, NY, 2009 Candid, New Art Center, New York, NY, 2009 Growth, Cohen and Grimbsly LLC, Pittsburgh, Pa. 2009 Three Rivers Arts Festival, Liberty Ave Gallery, Pittsburgh, Pa, 2009 October Evenings , Heeshorn Gallery, Meadville, Pa. 2004, 2005, 2009 Earth and Fire, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh, Pa. 2008 Cannabis, New Art Center, New York, NY, 2008 NPAA in Brooklyn, Lucky Gallery, Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY 2007 79 North, Heeshorn Gallery, Meadville, Pa. 2007 NPAA Invitational, Mercyhurst College Cummings Gallery, Erie, Pa. 2007 Influx, Pittsburgh Technical Institute, Pittsburgh, Pa. 2007 Ruth Jageman Panorama, Raymond Blasco Memorial Library, Erie, Pa 2006, 2007, 2008 New Art Center, MiWAA Group Exhibit, NYC, NY 2007 Butler Institute of Art/Salem, AAP Group Show, Salem, Ohio 2005 2005 Hoyt Regional Art Show, Hoyt Institute of Fine Art, New Castle, Pa. 2005 AAP Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts, Hoyt institute of Fine Arts, New Castle, Pa. 2005 81st Annual Spring Show, Erie Art Museum, Erie, Pa. 2004 Public Art: The Looking Glass Art Project 150 Year Anniversary Mural, Borough of Union City, Pa., 12’ x 40’, 2021 The Pontiacs, Pontiac field mural at Bayview Park, Erie, Pa., 2020, Our West Bayfront Neighborhood organization Universalist Unitarian Church Mural, 10’ x 45”, Erie, Pa. 2020 Ben Franklin Technology, Art+Tech+Entrepreneur Experience, Mixed Media with interactive light and sound, 18’ x 20’, Penn State, Behrend Campus, Knowledge Dr., Erie, Pa, 2019 SSJ Neighborhood Network, Larry’s Market, Acrylic on Polytab, 20’ x50’, Larry’s Market, 17th and Sassafras St., Erie, Pa. 2019 Eastside Neighborhood Coalition: Three murals along Buffalo Rd in east Erie. Each mural was created in collaboration with House of Mercy, EUCDC and JFK Center, Acrylic on Polytab, 2019 Erie Downtown Partnership/ International Institute of Erie, Erie School District, “I Am, I Will Be, Erie’s Future” Acrylic on Polytab, 32’ x 24’, Palace Center, 915 State St., Erie, Pa, 2018 Erie Federal Credit Union, Mixed media with fused glass, recycled brass and bronze, 10’x12’, Erie Federal Credit Union Corporate office, Erie, Pa, 2018 Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Network, “Garden to Table” 12’ x 30” Mural, Acrylic on Polytab fabric, 18th and Hickory, Erie, Pa., 2017 Martin Luther King Center, Erie, Pa. “Let the Children Sing” 17’ x 30’ Mural, Acrylic on Polytab fabric., 312 Chestnut St., Erie, Pa. 2017 Church of the Covenant, “Creation”, 5’ x 70’ Mural, Acrylic on Polytab fabric, 7th and Myrtle St Playground, Erie, Pa., 2017 Art and Industry, Community public art project funded in part by Artworks Grant, National Endowment of the Arts, United Way of Erie County, Erie Arts and Culture, Pa. Council of the Arts and Erie County Technical Center, Three public art pieces celebrating Erie Pa’s industrial Heritage, Three Installations include: -Fruits of Labor, Metal, repurposed material, 20’x40’, 13th and Holland St., Erie, Pa, 2016 -Setting the Stage for Erie’s Future, Erie Playhouse Rehearsal Hall, 27’x30’ mural, Acrylic on polytab fabric, E. 12th St, Erie, Pa, 2016 -The Path of Innovation, Stainless Steel and mixed media, 9’ x 70’, 12th and Greengarden, Erie, Pa., 2016 Snoops Neighborhood Watch Mural Project, Erie, Pa. Design, fabricate and Install four outdoor community murals celebrating ethnic diversity and heritage. Polish Heritage, acrylic on ploy tab, 8’x 15’, 2015, Nepal Heritage, acrylic on polytab, 8’ x 12’, 2015, Somalia Heritage, acrylic on cinder block, 8’ x 9’, 2015, Bhutan Heritage, acrylic on polytab, 25’ x 22’, 2015 Rouse Home, Design, fabricate and install 2 murals at Rouse Estate. “Letters to the Universe” One mural located in the lobby at the Rouse Home, 8’ x 9’ oil on panel. One mural on exterior wall of Rouse Suites, 22’ x 8’, Acrylic on Polytab 2014 Seasons of Flight,Housing and Neighborhood Development Services, St Joseph’s Apartments , W. 6th and Maryland, Erie, Pa.,, Acrylic on Ploytab, mosaic on hardboard, 18’x40’, 2016 “Ribbons of Life, Love and Hope” Housing and Neighborhood Development Services, Villa Marie Apartments, Erie, Pa. Mixed media, including acrylic on polytab, mosaic on hardboard. 25’ x 18’, 2014 “Works” Lifeworks Senior Center, Erie, Pa., acrylic, wood, metal, plaster, 6’ x 9’, 2013 “Life”, Lifeworks Senior Center, Erie, Pa., mixed media on high density foam, polytab and metal, 6’ x 12’, 2012 “Lets Move Outside”, Designed and Fabricated fifteen individual trail markers for fifteen communities throughout Erie County, Pennsylvania, Steel, limestone, glass and acrylic, 48” x 30” , 2011, 2012, www.letsmoveoutside.org Publications AND MEDIA Public Art Showcase, Erie Times News, Art +Tech, Christopher Millette, December 2019 Erie Times News, Collective Vision, January 2019 Lake Erie Lifestyle Magazine, 12th Street Story, Abby Badach, December 2016 Erie Times News, To Fully Understand Erie, Start with the Art, Pat Bywater, October 19, 2016 Erie Times News, Sculpture celebrates Erie’s Fruits of Labor, Jack Hanrahan, August 18th, 2016 Erie Times News, Art at Work, Christopher Millette, June 11th, 2016 Erie Times News, Community Art, Sarah Crosby, July 4th, 2015 Blogs: America for the Arts / National Endowment of the Arts Other Publications and Media Perspectives, Fall, Winter 2019, 2020, The Westmorland Museum of American Art Lake Erie Lifestyle magazine, November, 2019, Pittsburgh Post Gazzette, Marylynne Pitz, Local Artists Talents Exhibited in AAP Exhibition, September, 17th, 2018 Showcase, Erie Times News, Karen Rene Merkle, May, 2017 The Forest Press, Tionesta, Pa., March 23, 2016 Showcase, Erie Times News, They’re Watching You, Karen Rene Merkle, November, 2014 Showcase, Erie Times News, The Sky’s the Limit, Karen Rene Merkle, August 8th, 2013 Pittsburgh Tribune, TIMELESS, Kurt Shaw, August 1st, 2012 Erie Reader, Visual Experiences: IN THE BOX, Luke Gehring, November 2, 2011 Showcase, Erie Times News, IN THE BOX, Karen Rene Merkle, October 27th, 2011 Pittsburgh Tribune, Associated Artists Centennial Exhibit, Kurt Shaw, August 8, 2010 Pittsburgh Post Gazette, THE LANGUAGE OF ART, Mary Thomas, August 1, 2010 WQLN Radio, All Things Erie, Interview with Tom Plye, February, 1012 WQLN Radio, A CANVAS OF POSSIBILITIES, Interview with Kim Young, July 2010 Showcase, Erie Times News, ART RENEWAL, The Mercantile Show, Karen Rene Merkle, June 2010 Showcase, Erie Times News, BEAUTIFUL, BEASTLY, Side Show by the Sea Shore, Karen Merkle, May 2010 Erie Life Magazine, Speculum Mundi: Erie Arts, January 2010 Showcase, Erie Times News, Visual Arts Review, the Year 2009, Dec. 31st, 2009 Showcase, Erie Times News, SKY’S THE LIMIT, Nuts & Boltz, Karen Rene Merkle, August 2009 Showcase, Erie Times News, FROM MOTORSHOP TO ARTS SPACE , Karen Rene Merkle, August 27th, 2009 Lake Erie Lifestyle Magazine, Art Erie, February 2009 Erie Life Magazine, An Artistic Passion, May 2008 Looking Glass Art Project video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd5awke91AM Professional Affiliations Co-director, Northwestern Pennsylvania Artist Association (NPAA) 2008-2016 Standards committee chairman, NPAA 2006-2008, 2015 Associated Artists of Pittsburgh 2005-current Culture Spark, Erie, Pa Pa. Council of the Arts, Erie Arts and Culture, Teaching Artist 2010-current Trustee, Board of Directors, Erie Arts and Culture, 2014-2020 Interim Executive Director, Erie Arts & Culture, May-September 2018 Related Work/ Professional Experience Creating with Community residency coordinator for 12 artist cohort, Erie Arts and Culture, 2021 Artist in Residence, Strong Vincent Middle School, Erie School District, Erie, Pa., 2018, 2019, 2020 Artist in Residence, Erie High School 2018 Artist in Residence, International Institute of Erie 2018 Artist in Residence, Emerson-Gridley School, Erie School District, Erie, Pa., 2017 Artist in Residence, Erie Art Museum, Kids as Curators, 2013, 2015, 2016 Adjunct faculty, Mercyhurst University, North East, 2009-2014 Juror, Associated Artist of Pittsburgh, New member screening, 2013 Teaching Artist , Lifeworks Erie, LIFE 2012,2013, 2015 Artist in Residence, Ridgeway Area High School, 2013 Artist in Residence, Wattsburgh Area Schools, Medal of Honor Foundation, 2012, 2013 Artist in Residence Program, Erie School District, 2010-2011 Artist in Residence, Art in Action, ArtsErie, Penncrest School District 2011 Visiting Artists Series, Slippery Rock University 2009 McCain Fund, grant recipient, ArtsErie for NPAA Nuts & Boltz Exhibition, 2009 Education University of Miami, Coral Gables, Fla. BFA 1977 Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, 1981 Art Students League of New York, NYC 1982-83 |
