At M. Willis: Thomas Towhey's Scrumptious & Perturbing Paintings

Thomas Hieronymus Towhey The Rhythm of Mischief opens tonight (5–9 p.m.) at Oakley's M. Willis Fine Art & Design. I ran over this morning to get a closer look and there's something about these highly illustrative paintings that captivates me but also makes me uneasy. He depicts a fantastic, lush, fairytale-like world inspired by childhood stories such as “Alice in Wonderland", which like all the best childhood stories is nerve wracking and surreal.

Elves, birds and shoes inhabit enchanted forests. Clowns and carnies tumble across fairgrounds. Blowsy teapots are a recurring image, paying homage to his grandmother, a collector of teapots and a central figure in his life. Complementing the art is poetry by Brian Huehls. Towhey is largely self-taught. He studied briefly at UC and the Art Academy, before deciding that an institutional art education was not his cup of tea.

Sara Pearce, Cincinnati Enquirer Arts Reporter

April 2007 Cincinnati Enquirer Arts Blog

 

Highly cerebral and often fantastical in tone and subject matter, Towhey's paintings transport the viewer to a different world. Towhey's paintings combine a skillful use of color with overlapping forms and biomorphic shapes, creating visual environs unlike any that exist beyond the edges of the canvas.

Mark Rottinghaus, Gallery Director M. Willis Fine Art Cincinnati Ohio