Tom Karges was born in the German community of Haubstadt, Indiana and raised on the family farm. In 1982, he moved to Texas where he lived until his relocation to the Saint Louis area in 2019. Mr. Karges operated his own residential painting company through 2018, at which time he decided to focus his efforts on his artwork. By utilizing materials and tools normally used for wall finishes, he has created techniques to produce unique images on both canvas and wood panels.
Texture is the cohesive element running through Karges’ practice. He experiments with a wide array of tools and application methods to create diverse surfaces with compositional elements mostly derived from nature. Floral forms, trees, and landscapes can be found in his works and are often combined with abstract shapes representing tree bark, stone, and water movements. Karges juxtaposes and fuses natural images with geometric designs relying on texture for the creation of the composition. By working and re-working layers of materials and different pigments, the pieces are built outwards and thus hinge between painting and sculpture, bridging not only those two mediums, but also the gap between the inside and outside world.
“When I was growing up, I spent a lot of time with a paint brush, turning ordinary objects into art; Swing-sets, picnic tables, rocks, furniture, toys…I painted designs on everything including a grain auger! Now my painting has evolved into a meditative experience where I portray tranquil scenes of nature.”
“People often comment that my art evokes a sense of calm and peace. I hope that the viewer experiences some sense of pleasure when looking at my work and they also find the serene place that I have discovered in my mind’s eye.”
Tom Karges