Tom Jean Webb is a multidisciplinary artist living in Austin, Texas. He brings his vivid explorations of humanity’s relationship with the natural world to Sightlines at Gallery 85. Webb’s work blends real and imagined landscapes, using intricate details and vibrant colors to invite viewers into an immersive reflection on their connection to the land. His participation in this group exhibition showcases his ongoing journey to explore how nature shapes human experience, offering a contemplative space for viewers to reconnect with their surroundings.
Webb’s upbringing in the UK, where he lived next door to his Americana-loving grandfather, played a formative role in his work. “I was lucky enough to grow up next door to my granddad in the UK. His house was a museum to all things Americana, it was a haven and fun place for me to be,” Webb shares. This early influence sparked his fascination with the American Southwest, which became a central theme in his art. “A fantastical and romantic notion of the SouthWest was cemented for me and became the object or main character in my artwork for a long time,” he explains, before eventually embarking on his own journey West to explore the landscapes he had long envisioned.
After traveling to the American Southwest, Webb’s artistic approach shifted, as he found himself living within the landscapes he had once imagined. “It became apparent to me that I had stepped into my own work and the perspective needed to shift,” Webb says. This transformation allowed Webb to focus on smaller moments of stillness and connection, bringing a new layer of depth to his art. “Suddenly the expansive view got closer and was about learning to enjoy the smaller moments closer to home,” he adds.
Tom Jean Webb, “From One to Each Other” (2023) – Acrylic, Crayon, and Glitter on Canvas
Webb’s work in Sightlines reflects his ongoing dialogue with the natural world, and his desire to explore its beauty and complexity. “I’m trying to understand my own relationships with the nature I’m surrounded by and the beauty that exists to remind myself how I need it, how I love it and show and share that message to others,” Webb explains. His use of vibrant color, layered contours, and flowing compositions create immersive landscapes that invite viewers to pause and reflect.
His influences span far beyond the Southwestern United States, drawing on a deep history of landscape painting, but also incorporating elements of the unexpected, such as the contrast between natural formations and human-made boundaries. “I’m interested in the idea of space in painting, both implied space and real space. I want to connect the worlds between canvas, the physical world, and the performance of viewing or the viewer themself,” Webb says, describing his fascination with the way his art interacts with the viewer and the world outside the frame.
Tom Jean Webb, “The Inseparable Nature of Land From Itself” (2023) – Acrylic Paint, Oil and Acrylic Pastel on Canvas. 70” x 50”
Webb’s participation in Sightlines offers an opportunity for audiences to engage with his evolving artistic practice, in which he explores the tension between expansion and intimacy. His works act as a bridge between the viewer and the landscape, urging a deeper contemplation of our place within the natural world. “I make work based on the concepts I enjoy and as a result of the life I live but I also think about the viewer and the act of being with art,” he explains. “I try to leave room for the viewer to create stories or a space to exist in the work. I don’t like the idea of ‘full stops,’ and by leaving work open, it allows the work to evolve as the viewer evolves.”
Reflecting on his experience working with the curatorial team at ATP.art, Webb is grateful for the care they’ve shown in showcasing his work. “They have been incredibly generous and supportive. They took time to understand my work and explain how they felt it could live within the show. It was great to feel trust that myself and my work was fully respected and appreciated,” he shares.
As Sightlines continues to explore the theme of shifting perspectives, Tom Jean Webb’s contribution offers a meditative space where viewers can reflect on the ever-changing relationship between humanity and the natural world. His work invites us to pause, to listen, and to reconnect with the landscape that surrounds us—both in the gallery and beyond.
To experience Tom Jean Webb’s work firsthand, be sure to visit Sightlines at Gallery 85 in New York City, running through March 2025. You can follow Tom’s journey on Instagram at @tomjeanwebb for more updates and insights into his creative process.
