Tom Blackwell (American, 1938-2020)

Paintings

Who is painter Tom Blackwell?

Tom Blackwell was an American artist whose work evolved from abstract expressionist to Pop art, to one of the founders of the photorealist movement. Today he is best known for his work as a photorealist or “hyperrealist”. His large-scale works are prized by the art world, and he worked for many years as an art professor at numerous universities such as Keene State College, The University of Arizona Tucson, and The School of Visual Arts in New York. He was an artist in residence several times and his work has been the subject of many solo and group exhibitions since the 1970s.

Tom Blackwell is the recipient of several awards from the art community. He won the New York State Council of the Arts artist’s grant, an individual artist award from the New Hampshire State Council of the Arts, and a purchase award from the American Academy of Institute of Letters. His solo and group exhibitions have appeared in the Whitney Museum of Art, the San Francisco Museum of Art, The Smithsonian, and numerous other prestigious institutions.

What kind of art does Tom Blackwell make?

Tom Blackwell makes large-scale hyperrealistic paintings. These pieces often feature light and reflection in interesting ways, highlighted by his chosen subject matter: machinery, metal, glass, and airplanes and motorcycles. In later years, Blackwell’s subjects morphed to include storefronts, windows, and even mannequins. Though he is best known for his Photorealist style, his early work centered on Pop Art and abstract expressionism. These pieces were often influenced by the Vietnam War, including his painting Gook (1969) which was featured in the Human Concern Personal Torment exhibit at the Whitney Museum of Art. With the start of the next decade, Blackwell had fully embraced his photorealist sensibilities, producing several notable works that featured layered imagery and reflecting glass.

How did painter Tom Blackwell get started?

Tom Blackwell was born in 1938 in Poughkeepsie, New York. Born to a middle-class family, Blackwell showed an early proclivity toward art that led to him moving to New York City. While there, Blackwell started in abstract expressionism and Pop Art, though he still hadn’t found his voice as a painter. In 1969, he began a series of photorealistic paintings based on a motorcycle. These paintings were immediately seen as something totally new, and with it Blackwell became the vanguard of a new generation of artists, the Photorealists. These paintings were soon featured in some of the most prestigious galleries and museums in the world, allowing Blackwell to concentrate on his art and teaching for the rest of his life.

How much are Tom Blackwell paintings worth?

Tom Blackwell’s paintings can be worth anywhere from around $3,000 to over $200,000 depending on the work. The most ever paid for a Tom Blackwell painting at auction is $257,000 for the piece Howdy Beef ‘N Burger (1974) which sold on November 13th, 2013. It sold for 156% above its high estimate. To date, the most ever paid for a Tom Blackwell piece for Heritage Auctions is $34,500 for the painting, Sunday in New York (1986) which sold on May 24th, 2018.

Where to buy Tom Blackwell paintings for sale?

See works for sale below. Why buy from Heritage? Art buyers feel confident because our experts know the market and put careful valuations on the artwork for sale. We make the bidding process easier to help you expand your art collection.

How to value Tom Blackwell paintings?

The best way to value art is to compare past auction prices for similar works. View past sale prices below. When you’re ready to sell, contact Heritage Auctions to request an auction estimate of the likely selling price at auction. If you need a formal written appraisal for estate planning or insurance, please contact our Appraisal Services Department.