Form
April 20, 2012
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AOL Artists program
April 16, 2012
I am pleased to announce that my work has been selected to join the AOL Artists program. Please check out my AOL Artists page, where you can see the three canvases they selected and a number of my other pieces, plus bio information and social media links. My wife Holly Holmes was also selected for the program you can see her AOL Artists page here. From our artists pages you can select our canvases to adorn the AOL homepage each time you visit their site. We’re both really excited to be part of this program joining several artists whose work we really admire including fellow Chicago-based artist Cody Hudson, UK-based illustrator and artist Matt Lyon, Brooklyn based UK-artist Jon Burgerman, Mike Perry and Siggi Eggertsson. Big thank you to Nikki and Erika and everyone from AOL for making this happen.
Typeforce 3 at Co-Prosperity Sphere, Chicago, IL 03/30 – 04/13/2012
March 29, 2012
I’m premiering a new series of inkjet printed editions at Typeforce 3 this weekend here in Chicago. Currently there are six images in the series, each one spelling out a different “Four Letter Word” in my custom typeface. They are printed on Moab Entrada Rag paper, in an edition of 5 prints plus artists proof.
If you would like more information drop me a line: tom@tomburtonwood.com.
To preview the images click here: Four Letter Words.
TYPEFORCE 3
The Annual Showcase of
Typographic Allstars
Opening Night
March 30, 2012 – 7-11pm
Co-Prosperity Sphere
3219 S Morgan St in Bridgeport – map
Tasty Drinks by the Hornswaggler’s
After party at Maria’s Bar – 2 blocks north of the gallery
——
This Year’s Typographic Allstars
Abby Christensen, Alex Fuller, Alexa Viscius, Andy Luce, Brandt Brinkerhoff, Cameron Brand, Cristina Vanko, Dave Pabellon, Derek Olson, NosE, Elaine Fong, Gregory Calvert, Jana Kinsman, Jason Frohlichstein, Jason Lazarus, Jennie Li, Jessica Viscius, Jillian Barthold, John Pobojewski, Jonathan Duncan, Jonathan Petersen, Jordan Martins, Juan Chavez, Kady Dennell, Katherine Walker, Kyle Fletcher, Lauren Connoll, Matthew Hoffman, Meaghan Burritt, Mike Wilgus, Nathan Legsdin, Nick Adam, Ranee Wu, Rick Valicenti, Ryan Duggan, Thom Snels, Tom Burtonwood, Vida Sacic
Generously Supported by AIGA Chicago

Special Treats From Your Friends at Society of Typographic Arts
Graphic Arts Studio and Unisource.
Downcast Eyes
March 15, 2012
I’m participating in “Downcast Eyes” next week at the Museum of Contemporary Art, showing one of my animated gif’s. Big thank you to TAGTEAM & twohundredandfifysixcolors for making it possible!
Downcast Eyes takes place at the MCA, 220 E. Chicago, on Tues., March 20, as part of the MCA’s Internet Superheroes series. The public is encouraged to participate. TAGTEAM and twohundredfiftysixcolors will give brief presentations at 6:30 but participants should show up by 6 p.m. More information can be found on the MCA’s website.
Mention on Triblocal
February 22, 2012
Short mention on Triblocal about the artist’s talk and demo from last Saturday with Patrick Lichty.
Tessellations: Artist Talk at Oak Park Library, Maze Branch
February 18, 2012
Saturday February 18th, 3pm – 4pm
Oak Park Public Library
Maze Branch
845 Gunderson
Oak Park, IL 60304
708.386.4751
Tessellations , Technologies, Techniques: 3 p.m. Feb. 18 at Maze Branch. I’m giving an artist’s talk today with my colleague Patrick Lichty in support of my current exhibition at the Oak Park Public Library, Maze Branch. I’m going to demonstrate the digital fabrication methods and technologies I used to create the reliefs in my recent installation “Tessellations.” Additionally we’ll be demonstrating how to create a 3-d scan with a MS Kinect and print this scan with a Makerbot 3-d printer.
Tessellations, solo exhibition at Oak Park Public Library, Maze Branch
February 3, 2012
Tessellations
Solo Exhibition by Tom Burtonwood
February 4th – 29th, 2012
Oak Park Public Library – Maze Branch
845 Gunderson
Oak Park, IL 60304
708.386.4751
Comments (4)
Time Out Chicago profiles Hinge Gallery
January 25, 2012
Lauren Weinberg profiles Alderman Exhibitions, Hinge Gallery and The Mission in Time Out Chicago.
You Are Beautiful at Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, San Francisco CA
January 14, 2012
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, San Francisco CA
January 14th – February 25th, 2012
Opening Reception: Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 6:30pm
Main Gallery, Cash Bar and Light Snacks/ $5 admission
You Are Beautiful is a simple, powerful statement aspiring to create moments of positive self realization. The exhibition is an anonymous collective of community based projects and interventions, using drawings, photographs, found objects, sound, and installation to engage this fundamental concept in innovative and diverse ways. Also on view, is the You Are/ I Am Book Series, a global, collaborative project from the 2005 exhibit in Chicago.
After the exhibition, select works will be (re)installed in the streets of San Francisco―a campaign of optimism, seeking to create a new methodology of unified social consciousness.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts
Video from Geometrically Speaking II
December 14, 2011
Geometrically Speaking II Opening Reception from Mario Contreras on Vimeo.
GeoSpeak II was curated by Angela Bryant of Abryant Galllery. The show will remain up on the near north side of Chicago from November 2011 – February 2012
River Bank Lofts
550 North Kingsbury Chicago, IL 60305
Featured Artists: Jerome Acks, Robert Burnier, Tom Burtonwood, Diana P. Gabriel, Brittney Hudgins, Sam Jaffe, Jeffrey Cote de Luna, Dominic Paul Moore, NoNora Maite Nieves, Kristina Paabus, Melody Saraniti, and Rachel Smith
Sidecar Gallery exhibition reviewed on Bad at Sports
November 28, 2011
“Water” with Holly Holmes and James Jankowiak at Sidecar Gallery was reviewed by Jeriah Hildwine on Bad at Sports, in a post titled “This Is Why Indiana Is The Shit.” — Thank you Jeriah!
Aqua Art Miami 2011
November 25, 2011
I will be exhibiting this year at the Aqua Art Miami fair with our project space What It Is. I am showing Composition 7.1.1 and a number of my Color Study / Composition 2 pieces. I will have both framed and unframed pieces from the Composition 2 series available plus a limited number of signed books too. I am exhibiting alongside my good friends and colleagues Lise Haller Baggesen, Holly Holmes, Sabina Ott, Andrew Rigsby and Stoic Swine. If you are in Miami for the fairs please drop me a line and i’ll fwd you a pdf VIP ePASS for Aqua Art Miami.
Aqua Art Miami
Booth #111
VIP Preview, November 30th: 8 – 11pm
General Admission:
December 1/2/3: 11am – 8pm
December 4: 11am – 4pm
2011 Fair Schedule
VIP Preview Opening
Wednesday, November 30: 8 – 11 pm
Sponsored by MODERN PAINTERS
Featuring Russell Mofsky and the Gold Dust Lounge.
Catering by Chef Wally Rice. Beverages courtesy of SX Liquors.
Museum Day at Aqua11
Thursday, December 1: 11am – 8pm
Free entry to the fair for members of participating art museums (see below)
General Public Hours
Thursday, December 1: 11am – 8pm
Friday, December 2: 11am – 8pm
Saturday, December 3: 11am – 8pm
Sunday, December 4: 11am – 4pm
General Admission: $10 (good for re-entry for the duration of the fair)
FREE with Aqua VIP Card or ePASS, Art Basel VIP Card & Art Basel Press Pass
Aqua Hotel
1530 Collins Ave, Miami Beach,
FL, 33139
Geometrically Speaking II, Abryant Gallery, Chicago, IL 11/17/11 – 02/17/12
November 12, 2011
Abryant Gallery presents:
Geometrically Speaking II
Opening reception Thursday November 17th, 6pm – 8pm
Exhibition continues through 02/17/12
Modern art has a rich history with geometric shapes thanks to artists like Sol LeWitt , Frank Stella, Mondrian, and many others. In Geometrically Speaking II, artwork that utilizes geometric shapes as their central theme will be exhibited. Viewers will encounter the multi-layered stripped paintings of Melody Saraniti, an original alphabet composed solely of geometric shapes by Tom Burtonwood, and an octagonal-shaped sculpture composed of sweaters by Sam Jaffe.
Featured Artists: Jerome Acks, Robert Burnier, Tom Burtonwood, Diana P. Gabriel, Brittney Hudgins, Sam Jaffe, Jeffrey Cote de Luna, Dominic Paul Moore, Nora Maite Nieves, Kristina Paabus, Melody Saraniti, and Rachel Smith
Curated by Angela Bryant
Water at Sidecar Gallery, Hammond, IN
November 5, 2011

Water, at Sidecar Gallery, Hammond. Wallpaper and relief by Tom Burtonwood, sculpture in foreground by Holly Holmes, paintings by James Jankowiak
“Water”
New work by:
Tom Burtonwood
Holly Holmes
James Jankowiak
Opens November 5th, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Water
It exists naturally in all three common states of matter. As one of the ‘classical’ elements, it represents the fluid, formless things in the world. It makes up, at minimum, 55% percent of the human body. Covering almost 70% of its surface, water is the most abundant compound on the Earth. It is, quite literally, almost everywhere. Just as water is a necessity for humans, so is art. Everywhere we go, throughout history, human beings remake the world around them. We must do it. We take the world apart and rearrange it to suit our own needs. Closing the 2011 season, SideCar presents three artists and their personal approaches to this ‘remaking’ of the world.
Holly Holmes starts with a material and breaks it into smaller parts, attempting to distill that material into a simple unit. Then, using multiples of the simple unit, builds up her forms in an organic process of reassembly. Tom Burtonwood‘s recent work has involved remaking the form of the ‘QR-code’; combining the structure of this variation on the bar-code with color interaction studies. The resulting geometric abstraction contains an alphabet embedded in its forms. These are not just interesting compositions. They actually contain language; they could be words. James Jankowiak speaks of building up his abstractions, starting with simple geometric forms and layering colored line upon colored line until the final object reveals itself to him. All three artists refer to their objects slowly appearing through process, after first distilling an essence, then by layering repeated actions by the artist and repeated permutations of that distilled form. Water. It is rarely pure. It is referred to as The Universal Solvent. It is special because it is absolutely necessary and it is ubiquitous. Most of us take water for granted. When absent, however, that ubiquity and necessity are amplified. In much the same way, we also take art for granted. Human beings need to make. We will always remake the world around us. This is, at its core, the reason for the work of art.
All photos courtesy of Sidecar Gallery.
I am premiering my new “wall paper” installation titled Cipher-text. I created the design using my alphabet / font, Hedgehog. There are two designs encrypting three character internet acronyms such as LOL, WTF etc etc. Using the embedded QR codes visitors are invited to attempt to decode them.
Directions:
To get to Sidecar Gallery via automobile from Chicago, with tolls: http://g.co/maps/6phh5 without tolls: http://g.co/maps/svqxp
To get to Sidecar Gallery via public transit take the South Shore line from Millennium Station to the Hammond stop, it should take about 45mins: http://www.nictd.com/wkndeast.html . This map shows the proximity of the Hammond station to the gallery: http://g.co/maps/em9vz.
Big thankyou to Mike Kaysen for asking Holly, James and I to show at Sidecar Gallery.
Thank you to Paul Klein for the shout out on art letter!
Digital Revolutions: 2ND FLR Gallery, Chicago
October 19, 2011
@ 2ND FLR Gallery
903 w. 19th St. Chicago, IL 60608
Opening Friday, October 14th, from 6PM – 10PM
On view through Saturday, October 29. In celebration of Chicago Artist Month, 2ND FLR Gallery is proud to present Digital Revolution. By participating in CAM “Artful Networks,” we will be expanding on their theme the communities that nurture and inspire Chicago artists and their work. Our artists, Stephanie Burke, Annie Heckman, Tom Burtonwood Fraser Taylor , and Chris Hammes represent contemporary film, performance, installation, photography and animation.
More info at http://www.thevisualist.org/2011/10/digital-revolution/
UK/Chicago: A Benefit for the Egmont Trust
October 7, 2011
Friday, October 7, from 8-11 pm, four UK artists are hosting an exhibit to benefit Egmont Trust, a leading UK children’s charity. Your $15 donation gets you in to see some art, an incredible view of the city and a glass of wine… best of all, 100% of your donation goes to charity.
The venue can hold 100 so places are limited.
Artists:
Tom Burtonwood
Industry of the Ordinary
Teresa Albor
Venue:
The residence of the British Consul General, 61st floor, Olympia Towers, 161 East Chicago Ave., Chicago IL, 60611
WRITE NOW: Artists & Letterforms
September 25, 2011
WRITE NOW: ARTISTS & LETTERFORMS
September 30, 2011 – April 29, 2012
Chicago Cultural Center
78 E. Washington Street
Opening Reception: Friday, September 30, 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Actual Size Artworks, Nick Adam, Teresa Albor, Dylan Allread, Aviva Alter, Rahmaan “Statik” Barnes, Catherine Bouzide, Drury Brennan, Stephanie Brooks, Tom Burtonwood, Derek Chan, Erik DeBat, Louis DeMarco, Michael Dinges, Dzine, Ken Fandell, Samuel Feinstein, Doug Fogelson, Mike Genovese, Aron Gent, Mario Gonzalez Jr., Dan Grzeca, Matthew Hoffman, Jo Hormuth, Cody Hudson, Industry of the Ordinary, Matt Irie, Carol Jackson, Kathleen Judge, Amos Kennedy, Chad Kouri, BJ Krivanek, Jason Lazarus, Harold Mendez, Adelheid Mers, Jason Messinger, Eddwin Meyers, Ray Noland, Todd Palmer, Jason Pickleman, Jaume Plensa, John Pobojewski, Karen Reimer, Bud Rodecker, Matt Rose, Joel Ross, John Santoro, Zach Shrey, Matt Siber, Nicholas Sistler, Buzz Spector, Christine Tarkowski, Scott Thomas, Michael Thompson, Tom Torluemke, Cecil Touchon, Rick Valicenti, Nathan Veach, Daniel Warren, Ian Weaver, Ian Whitmore, Bernard Williams & Fluxus Mail Art and Concrete Poetry
Artists Talk with Mike Genovese, Christine Tarkowski, Bernard Williams
Thursday, October 6, 2011, 6PM, Claudia Cassidy Theater
Look for more information soon about:
Fluxus Day at the Chicago Cultural Center: February 11, 2012
Gallery talks, January – April, 2012
Monthly on the 2nd Tuesday and 4th Wednesday, 6 PM
Presented by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events in partnership with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture.
Comments (2)
New City: Imaginary Monuments for Chicago_ An Artists’ Project
September 7, 2011
http://art.newcity.com/2011/09/07/imaginary-monuments-for-chicago-an-artists%E2%80%99-project/
I was asked to produce a “proposal” for an Imaginary Monument for this weeks edition of Newcity. This image is what I came up with. The proposed site is that of the Chicago Spire. The modules are derived from my “font” Hedgehog and read
LOL
ROFL
LMFAO
respectively….
; )
Book Release Event
August 8, 2011
Please join me to help celebrate the publication of “Composition 2 / Color Studies,” a 120 page full color catalogue documenting the all 100 paintings in the Composition 2 series. Media artist and theorist Patrick Lichty has written a wonderful essay to accompany the work. We will have limited number of catalogues at the event so come early to pick one up or reserve one from the next batch.
Composition 2 is a series of 100 paintings produced sequentially, each one created on an identical matrix. The geometric composition is conceptually equivalent to the source code one might use in a computer program or web site. An identical visual framework is deployed to create many variations through simple modulations of hue and saturation. From a process of repetition and experimentation the phenomena of color is revealed to the viewer through many different outcomes.
Wii_pub_14
Published by Tom Burtonwood and What It Is
ALL ARTWORK © TOM BURTONWOOD 2011
CATALOGUE © TOM BURTONWOOD AND WHAT IT IS
Catalogue design by Tom Burtonwood and What It Is
Photography credits: Tom Burtonwood
Essay by Patrick Lichty
Version 2.0
http://tomburtonwood.com/
This catalogue is partially funded by an Individual Artist Support Initiative grant from the Illinois Arts Council.Thank you to
Encarnacion Teruel and everyone at IAC for their assistance.
Thank you to Jessica Cochran and the Center for Book and Paper at Columbia College Chicago for all their support with this
publication and concurrent exhibition.
Thank you to my parents Neil & Jean Burtonwood, Holly Holmes, Matt + Verity, Dawoud Bey, David Blackburn, Gretel Garcia Cuba, Connie Gillock, Sarah Guernsey & Richard Holland, Joyce & Kenneth Holmes, Christopher Holmes, R. James Healy, Barbara Kasten, Jeremiah Ketner, Paul Klein, Troy Klyber, Patrick Lichty, Sabina Ott, Rachel Perrine, Andrew Rigsby, Holly Sabin, Anthony & Andrea Vizarri and everyone who “liked” the color studies on Facebook, commented on them or added one (or more) to their collection IRL (in real life).
the toy formerly known as….
August 6, 2011
I have two new relief / 3-d pieces at “the toy formerly known as….” at Slow in Chicago.
Toys are designed to direct play, and to teach children the rules. We are directed. Play trains us. Instructions on the box; pictures of what it is supposed to look like. The rules.
But we don’t stay in those lines.
Artists talk at Hinge Gallery
August 1, 2011
I’ll be giving an artist talk about my current exhibition at Hinge Gallery on Sunday the 7th of August from 4 – 6pm.
Composition 2 / Color Studies Book
July 30, 2011
- Wii_pub_14
Published by Tom Burtonwood and What It Is - ALL ARTWORK © TOM BURTONWOOD 2011
- CATALOGUE © TOM BURTONWOOD AND WHAT IT IS
- Catalogue design by Tom Burtonwood and What It Is
- Photography credits: Tom Burtonwood
- Essay by Patrick Lichty
- Version 2.0
- http://tomburtonwood.com
This catalogue is partially funded by an Individual Artist Support Initiative grant from the Illinois Arts Council.Thank you to
Encarnacion Teruel and everyone at IAC for their assistance.
Thank you to Jessica Cochran and the Center for Book and Paper at Columbia College Chicago for all their support with this
publication and concurrent exhibition.
Thank you to my parents Neil & Jean Burtonwood, Holly Holmes, Matt + Verity, Dawoud Bey, David Blackburn, Gretel Garcia Cuba, Connie Gillock, Sarah Guernsey & Richard Holland, Joyce & Kenneth Holmes, Christopher Holmes, R. James Healy, Barbara Kasten, Jeremiah Ketner, Paul Klein, Troy Klyber, Patrick Lichty, Sabina Ott, Rachel Perrine, Andrew Rigsby, Holly Sabin, Anthony & Andrea Vizarri and everyone who “liked” the color studies on Facebook, commented on them or added one (or more) to their collection IRL (in real life).
Solo Exhibition at Hinge Gallery, Chicago
July 10, 2011
Grand Opening Thursday July 14, 2011 from 6 to 9 pm.
Featuring solo exhibitions from Scott Ashley and Tom Burtonwood.
Hinge Gallery will be open regular gallery hours starting this Wednesday, June 22. Stop in and say hello!
1955 W. Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622
312-291-9313
Holly Sabin
Co-Owner/Director
Gretel Garcia Cuba
Co-Owner/Director
Wednesday/Thursday 12 – 7 pm
Friday 2 – 7 pm
Saturday/Sunday 12 – 6 pm
Also open by appointment and by chance.
TWEEN X 2 showing on Channel TWo at File Type, Gallery 400
June 17, 2011
File Type
Curated by Chaz Evans and Lorelei Stewart
June 17 – July 30, 2011
Opening reception: June 17, 5-8pm
Mike Andrews | Jon Cates | Channel TWo | Anthony Discenza | Constant Dullaart | Eric Fleischauer | Patrick Lichty | Ei Jane Janet Lin & Miao Jiaxin | Kristin Lucas | Todd Mattei | Jesse McLean | Chris Meerdo | Casey Reas | Steve Ruiz | Siebren Versteeg
TWEEN x 2, a new variant on the color study gif shown in May at The Octagon is being shown on Channel TWo at Gallery 400 in Chicago for the next 6 weeks or so. Big thank you to Jessica and Adam for everything that they do in general and specfically for asking me to be part of their project at this show.
Spotlight Exhibition: Composition 2 @ the Center for Book and Paper Arts
June 14, 2011
Center for Book and Paper Arts
Spotlight Exhibition: Composition 2, Recent Work by Tom Burtonwood
June 16th – August 12th, 2011
Opening reception June 16th, 5pm – 8pm
Book release event August 12th
1104 S. Wabash, 2nd Fl Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: 312-369-6630
The gallery is open to the public and students, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Email: book&paper@colum.edu
Center for Book and Paper Arts
To mark the release of artist publication Color Studies 2010-2011, Composition 2 is an exhibition of works selected from a series of 100 paintings produced sequentially, each one created on an identical matrix. The geometric composition is conceptually equivalent to the source code one might use in a computer program or web site. An identical visual framework is deployed to create many variations through simple modulations of hue and saturation. Through a process of repetition and experimentation the phenomena of color is revealed to the viewer with many different outcomes.
Color Studies 2010-2011 is a 120 page publication with essay by media artist Patrick Lichty to be released in summer 2011. It is funded with an Individual Artist Support Initiative grant from the Illinois Arts Council. A book release party is scheduled for Friday August 12th, time TBD.
Many thanks to Jessica Cochran from CBPA for organizing this exhibition.
Praxis Journal of Philosophy Vol 3 Issue 1
June 14, 2011
Keeping the family tradition of contributing to philosophy journals going, my relief Sirius has been selected for the front cover of Praxis Journal of Philosophy, Vol 3 Issue 1. Praxis is published by the University of Manchester, so it’s double plus good from my pov.
A big thank you to David Alexander Smith for asking me to contribute an image of my work to their publication.
PDF download of the full issue.
TWEEN
May 5, 2011
THE OCTAGON presents
TWEEN
a one night event, 7-10pm, Saturday, May 7th
TWEEN is a survey of responses to the animated GIF via animated GIF-the bastard child of early motion picture technology and most pesky annoyance generator capable of rendering the most sober of images into perpetual ridicule. Local, national, and international cultural workers were asked to either create or curate an animated GIF. The show is divided in two parts.
1.THE RACE
Emphasizing the personal computer as the frame for production and consumption, 30 animated GIFS will play simultaneously by a diverse yet local slew of artists, designers, curators, writers, art historians, and cat fanciers, as they all race their animated GIF to personal computer battery death via an ad hoc computer lab.
2.TWEEN SCREEN
Projecting the animated GIF to a monumental scale via the 15’ TWEEN SCREEN; the wee GIF file will reach new lofty proportions that are incapable of experiencing at home in your mom’s basement.
TWEEN is a one night event and all GIFS and documentation, as well as a text by Steven Pate, will have an eternal afterlife where you can revel in its planned obsolescence at tweenchicago.tumblr.com. TWEEN is a project in collaboration between artist Christopher
Smith and Octagon Gallery.
Participants include:
Aaron Orsini, Adam Farcus, Adam Grossi, Alberto Aguilar, Alicja Zelazko, Angeline Evans, Arielle Bielak, Adam Trowbridge, Ben Russell, Big Bad Ron, Brandon Alvendia, Brian Wadford, Burak Birinci, Chris Hammes, E. Aaron Ross, Eric Fleischauer, Emily Keuhn, Hooliganship, Isak Berbic, Jake Myers, Jerimiah Chiu, Jesse Avina, Jon Satrom, Kevin Jennings, Kevin Robinson, Kirsten Leenaars, Kyle Fletcher, Laura Boban, Lara Stall, Mark Sansone, Michelle Harris, Michael Radziewicz, Miguel Cortez, PaperRad, Philip Parcellano, Philip von Zweck, Rob Ray, Silas Reeves, Steven Pate, Tim Pigot, Tom Burtonwood, Theo Darst, and many more!
Composition 2.61
April 26, 2011
Composition 2.61
Gouache on paper
9.5 x 8.5 inches
2011
tomburtonwood.com






































