Michael Tom
Encyclopedia
Michael Tom was an American sculptor who was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii
. He received a bachelor of fine art degree in painting and metalsmithing
from Sonoma State University
in Rohnert Park, California
, and pursued graduate studies at San Diego State University
. He started his artistic career as a painter, but was then drawn to making art jewelry
. Art jewelry
led to metalsmithing
, which in turn led to metal and mixed media
sculpture.
In 1992, Tom received the Catharine E. B. Cox Award for Excellence in the Visual Arts
. He is best known for his small sculptures of hammered copper. Death is a pervasive theme in his work (Clark, 1996), and Tom died of liver cancer
in Honolulu on April 12, 1999.
The Hawaii State Art Museum
and the East-West Center
are among the public collections holding sculptures by Michael Tom.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
. He received a bachelor of fine art degree in painting and metalsmithing
Smith (metalwork)
A metalsmith, often shortened to smith, is a person involved in making metal objects. In contemporary use a metalsmith is a person who uses metal as a material, uses traditional metalsmithing techniques , whose work thematically relates to the practice or history of the practice, or who engages in...
from Sonoma State University
Sonoma State University
Sonoma State University is a public, coeducational business and liberal arts college affiliated with the California State University system. The main campus is located in Rohnert Park, California, United States and lies approximately south of Santa Rosa and north of San Francisco...
in Rohnert Park, California
Rohnert Park, California
Rohnert Park is a city in Sonoma County, California, United States, located approximately north of San Francisco. The population at the 2010 United States Census was 40,971. It is an early planned city, modeled directly after Levittown, New York and Levittown, Pennsylvania. Rohnert Park is the...
, and pursued graduate studies at San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
. He started his artistic career as a painter, but was then drawn to making art jewelry
Art jewelry
Art jewelry is created with a variety of materials, not just precious metals and gems. In the late 19th century, René Lalique revolutionized jewelry design through his emphasis on imagination and technical virtuosity over precious materials and the imitation of past styles. Additionally, he...
. Art jewelry
Art jewelry
Art jewelry is created with a variety of materials, not just precious metals and gems. In the late 19th century, René Lalique revolutionized jewelry design through his emphasis on imagination and technical virtuosity over precious materials and the imitation of past styles. Additionally, he...
led to metalsmithing
Smith (metalwork)
A metalsmith, often shortened to smith, is a person involved in making metal objects. In contemporary use a metalsmith is a person who uses metal as a material, uses traditional metalsmithing techniques , whose work thematically relates to the practice or history of the practice, or who engages in...
, which in turn led to metal and mixed media
Mixed media
Mixed media, in visual art, refers to an artwork in the making of which more than one medium has been employed.There is an important distinction between "mixed-media" artworks and "multimedia art". Mixed media tends to refer to a work of visual art that combines various traditionally distinct...
sculpture.
In 1992, Tom received the Catharine E. B. Cox Award for Excellence in the Visual Arts
Catharine E. B. Cox Award for Excellence in the Visual Arts
The Catharine E. B. Cox Award for Excellence in the Visual Arts is a biannual award given to a visual artist who either lives in Hawaii or was born in Hawaii. The recipient may work in any medium, and is honored with a solo exhibition at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. The award was established in...
. He is best known for his small sculptures of hammered copper. Death is a pervasive theme in his work (Clark, 1996), and Tom died of liver cancer
Liver cancer
Liver tumors or hepatic tumors are tumors or growths on or in the liver . Several distinct types of tumors can develop in the liver because the liver is made up of various cell types. These growths can be benign or malignant...
in Honolulu on April 12, 1999.
The Hawaii State Art Museum
Hawaii State Art Museum
The No. 1 Capitol District Building, on the site of the former Armed Services YMCA Building, now houses the Hawaii State Art Museum and the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.-History:...
and the East-West Center
East-West Center
The East–West Center , headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii, is an education and research organization established by the U.S. Congress in 1960 to strengthen relations and understanding among the peoples and nations of Asia, the Pacific and the United States....
are among the public collections holding sculptures by Michael Tom.