|
SEBASTIAN THOMASSebastian Thomas is an American painter whose work re-imagines medieval iconography through a contemporary lens, blending mythic storytelling with reflections on modern culture. Drawing from illuminated manuscripts, altar paintings, and devotional objects, he creates densely composed works made of multiple panels that stage vivid encounters between saints, beasts, and heroes, serving as allegories for what he calls “the return of the dark ages.” His intricate surfaces and luminous palettes merge the richness of International Gothic painting with the wit and irreverence of popular culture.
Thomas formulates his own casein paints using traditional methods, treating craftsmanship as a form of devotion. Many of his compositions are built from panels connected with French cleats, a modular format that allows for reconfiguration and narrative variation. Across these ornate tableaux, female protagonists including martyrs, sphinxes, and warriors emerge as central figures who embody intelligence, resilience, and spiritual agency. By reviving visual languages from before the modern era, Thomas critiques present day technological and social hierarchies and imagines a world where mythic thought offers resistance to digital domination. Thomas earned his MFA in Painting and Drawing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and completed BFAs in Painting and Creative Writing at the Kansas City Art Institute. His work has been shown nationally and internationally, including at Zolla Lieberman Gallery in Chicago, Nashira Gallery in Milan, the Bridgeport Art Center in Chicago, and Brick Lane Gallery in London. In addition to his studio practice, Thomas teaches at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Indiana University Northwest, where he also leads public art initiatives such as the City of Gary Mural Project. He lives and works in Chicago and continues to build a symbolic body of work that unites historical craft, contemporary allegory, and the enduring force of myth. |
