Originally from Chicago, IL

Awarded ‘Master of Fine Arts’ degree while teaching art in NYC in the 60’s and early 70s.

During this period, I had several shows in Manhattan galleries…While Warhol was quickly becoming the center of the art world, I was one of the group called – by the critics – “What’s Next”.

My work – at that time – was executed in oils on canvas and largely impressionistic with a dose of surrealism. 

Moved to CA in the mid-70s and began traveling to Southeast Asia.  My time from the mid-70s to the late-80s was divided – about equally – between the U.S. and Taiwan, China, Malaysia and Thailand.

Lived – virtually full-time - in China and Malaysia for many years thereafter

Became intrigued early on with the Ming Dynasty scroll paintings, which taught me that Art is more than form and color.  Each scroll is also a poem…like the writings of Lao Tzu - which had a major impact on my work.  Where Western thought is (at best) “logical´- formulating concepts using “artificial” language for expression – Eastern thought and expressions are pictorial. (Chinese calligraphy:  picture writing).

“Western” art reproduces and/or “expresses” the surface appearance…from which came “Impressionism”.   “Eastern” “art” is part of a greater discipline:  understanding the relationship between an “object” and its environment, that a piece of artwork is exactly that – a piece of a greater whole.

Lao Tzu wrote that man is tied to the earth, earth to the skies, and the skies to the universe...and the universe is the home of the Tao (“the way”).

As a result of time spent in Southeast Asia, as well as having become a student of Eastern philosophy, I now build each object in my work from the inside to the outside.

There is a unique life in everything that surrounds us…a tree is a living organism and the life force in that tree does not end when the tree is felled.

Each painting is executed with special techniques learned on the shop floor (in Chinese factories), working with the (Chinese) artisans who were masters of their respective crafts – primarily master craftsmen in glazing techniques - as well as with one noted calligrapher.

I have adapted these techniques in order to express more than the superficial.

While some recent work has been executed with opaque water-based paints, the techniques employed are multiple glazing techniques associated with the production of oils.

My three most recent paintings have been executed in oil on canvas.

I describe today’s paintings as impressionistic, heavily influenced by Chinese philosophy.

If I were to give a “label” to my work, it would be:  allegorical impressionism.

Thom Mahin - 2008

Paintings in numerous collections – east coast and west coast