About
Welcome to Tom Kijak.com.
Hello to all visitors, new and returning!
I am Thomas Joseph Kijak (k-eye-jack) and here is a brief story of my life as a artist.
I was born in Baltimore MD March 9th, 1982
As early as I can remember I was interested in the creative process. My earliest interest in the arts came from my desire to draw images of sharks, dinosaurs, sea life, from National Geographic magazines and Desert Storm war machines.
As a child in kindergarten and Elementary school, animals, and war machines were exciting and inspirational. To add to the fun, Hawthorn Elementary School and my Kindergarten are located only a mile from a active Air Force base in MD. The rumble of DC-10 cargo carriers and the scream of A-10 Warthogs buzzing the play grounds all day, every day had added to the excitement and inspirational element.
In 2nd grade at Hawthorn Elementary School art class I completed first painting. It was a underwater scene. I can remember my teacher helping my draw snails. This painting was displayed during a PTA meeting and parent teacher nights, making this my first public exhibited work. My parents still have this painting hanging in there house, to this day(*image coming soon) During my elementary school days I also made two shark sculpture I still own. One in clay and the other paper mache. I’m surprised they lasted this long! *image coming soon
Time had passed and my interests grew. I drew my favorite comic book characters, started building model tanks and battleships, and with my intro to cub scouts I learned to whittle, carve, and sculpt wood.
High School was one of the biggest influence for my interest in persuing the fine arts.
I had gained much motivation and inspiration from my teachers Mrs. Stephanie Sykes and Mrs. Susan Guasp. In their class’ I learned the fundamentals of painting and how to express myself through canvas as well as interpreting abstract thought. I had also gained much motivation and inspiration from my friends, especially artist/friends John Lally and Christopher T. Long. Both taught me the importance of symbolism and creative thought. While in high school I completed my first clay sculpture and had my first museum shows including Nassau Museum of Art.
I had attended the Art Institute of Philadelphia for a year and a half with a major in Industrial Design, before I realized that school and career path was not for me. While there I apprenticed with artist, professor Philip Zuckman.
Current:
I’ve been considered a conceptualist , surrealist, expressionist, and graffiti artist.
I choose to paint on found objects including sheet metal, bottles, and scraps of wood because it is FREE. I prefer to mix mediums for maximum eye and mind grabbing effect. My style has continuity and is easily identifiable.
One thing I have come to realize is you must be able to take any and all criticism and be constructive with it.
I’m always learning from life and transforming my knowledge to technique and application of the media at hand.
I gain inspiration from graffiti and the erratic/random misadventures of my every day life experiences.
I’m also inspired by fellow artists and musicians. I gain motivation when I read about the struggles of the past masters of art and music such as Van Gogh, Pollock, and Frank Zappa.
Affiliations:
Berk’s Art Council: 2007-presnet
Berk’s Art Alliance: 2000-presnet
Gallery 20 co-op artist: 2001-present
Gloominous Doom’s Piss Army: 2007-present
Works exhibited:
*Works exhibited at the Heckshire Museum of Art in Northport, NY, 2000
*Works juried into exhibit at the The Nassau Museum of Art in NY, 2000
*Senior Class Gift 2000 commissioned sculpture at Kings Park High, Kings Park, NY 200
*Works exhibited at Gallery 20 in Reading, PA 2002-2007
*Works exhibited at Audio Art events hosted by Bryon Stout, Reading, PA, 2007
* Works exhibited at the Hard Bean Cafe’, Hamburg and Reading 2002, 2007
*Works exhibited at the Reading Museum of Art, Reading, PA 2007
*Works exhibited at Crazy Horse Gallery, Shillington, Pa , 2007
*Works exhibited at Punk Rock Flea Market @ the Silo, Reading PA, 2007
*Directed ,filmed, produced, Gloominous Doom’s ‘Death Roll’ music video, for for Private use, 2007
*Directed ,filmed, produced, Gloominous Doom’s ‘Washer at the ford’ ‘ music video, for Private use 2008
*Works on display @ Hard Bean, Reading 2000- present
*Works exhibited @ Thirst Aid, Reading, Pa, 4/08
*Works on permanent installation @ The Pillar hookah lounge, Reading, Pa, 2008
*Works juried into Berk’s Art Alliance exhibit @ The Goggle Works, Reading, PA,7/08
*Works juried into Berk’s Art Councils exhibit “Art of Jazz” @ The Goggle Works 3/08