10 Questions with Todd Williamson
As a Los Angeles-based contemporary artist, Todd Williamson has had the privilege of showcasing his work in over 200 exhibitions worldwide, including an official solo exhibition at the 2019 Venice Biennale. His project "Processional" was distinguished as a "Top Ten not to be missed" by publications such as Forbes, Widewalls, Domus, and The Venice Insider. His work has been exhibited globally in the company of illustrious peers like Ed Ruscha, Billy Al Bengston, Laddie John Dill, and Robert Ryman.
In 2019, Williamson received the Prize for Creativity from the Pollock Krasner Foundation, marking him as only the third recipient of this prestigious award. This recognition sits among a host of others, including a 2024 Foundation Grant from the PKF, an Icon Award, and an International Film Festival Award.
The year 2022 took him through Switzerland and Germany for a series of acclaimed exhibitions. He was one of seven artists in a special exhibition with the American Embassy to Italy, which paired artists and notable authors to explore "Place and Inspiration"; his work resonated with Truman Capote's musings on Ischia.
Looking forward to 2024, he will serve as the US State Department's Arts Envoy to Germany, holding an exhibition and engaging with the community through masterclasses at the City Museum of Deggendorf. Additionally, he will be returning to his alma mater, Belmont University, for a campus-wide exhibition in collaboration with composer Greg Walter.
www.toddwilliamson.com | @todd_williamson_art
Todd Williamson's art is like a deep dive into a world of subtle abstractions, where every piece has a kind of ethereal calm and a determined presence. Williamson's style might often tip towards the minimalist, with a near-monochrome palette, but there's always more beneath the surface. He brings his pieces to life through a process-oriented technique of layering, sanding, grinding, and detailed brushwork—each step pulling out an inner connection into his world. 
His way of building up layers makes his creations glow as if they're lit from within. Often working with a pared-down, almost monochrome vibe, his art comes to life through an intricate, very process-oriented dance of layering, sanding, grinding away at the canvas, and light brushwork that pulls out a kind of inner light that tells its own story.
These layers create an invitation to step back and ponder the depths of the art, to take in the complex dance of colors at your own pace. His works balance the push-pull of control and chaos, full of movements and textures that tease the idea of landscapes but don't quite spell them out, keeping things firmly in the realm of the abstract.
Williamson's art strikes this cool balance between contrasts—like he's having a chat with colors, playing with lights and shadows, and toying with the depths created in these colors and movements. When he teams up with musicians, it's a whole new ball game. Often collaborating with composer Greg Walter, UNC School of the Arts, Walter creates music that echoes the deep emotions and questions that are present in Williamson's paintings, turning colors and forms into sound, and just like that, you've got a blend of art you can see and hear. 
Adding to his list of accolades, Todd Williamson has been named a 2024 Foundation Grant winner by the Pollock Krasner Foundation, marking the third time the Foundation has honored him, including a 2019 Prize for Creativity and support for his 58th Venice Biennale project "Processional."  
Referencing the greats like Reinhardt, Still, and Frankenthaler and drawing inspiration from contemporary trailblazers, Williamson weaves all this into his distinct artistic narrative. With this latest nod from the Pollock Krasner Foundation, it's clear he's not just part of the conversation—he's leading it.
Al-Tiba9 Contemporary Art 
 August 8, 2024
10 Questions with Todd Williamson
As a Los Angeles-based contemporary artist, Todd Williamson has had the privilege of showcasing his work in over 200 exhibitions worldwide, including an official solo exhibition at the 2019 Venice Biennale. His project "Processional" was distinguished as a "Top Ten not to be missed" by publications such as Forbes, Widewalls, Domus, and The Venice Insider. His work has been exhibited globally in the company of illustrious peers like Ed Ruscha, Billy Al Bengston, Laddie John Dill, and Robert Ryman.
In 2019, Williamson received the Prize for Creativity from the Pollock Krasner Foundation, marking him as only the third recipient of this prestigious award. This recognition sits among a host of others, including a 2024 Foundation Grant from the PKF, an Icon Award, and an International Film Festival Award.
The year 2022 took him through Switzerland and Germany for a series of acclaimed exhibitions. He was one of seven artists in a special exhibition with the American Embassy to Italy, which paired artists and notable authors to explore "Place and Inspiration"; his work resonated with Truman Capote's musings on Ischia.
Looking forward to 2024, he will serve as the US State Department's Arts Envoy to Germany, holding an exhibition and engaging with the community through masterclasses at the City Museum of Deggendorf. Additionally, he will be returning to his alma mater, Belmont University, for a campus-wide exhibition in collaboration with composer Greg Walter.
www.toddwilliamson.com | @todd_williamson_art

INTERVIEW:
First, who is Todd Williamson, and how would you describe yourself in 3 words? 
I am an artist who is immersed in the study of life, translating my emotions and observations of the world onto my canvas.  My passion fuels my work, my thoughts shape its depth, and my resourcefulness drives its execution.  I am very fortunate to have had numerous opportunities to share my art globally, and each experience enriches my creative journey.  The 2019 Venice Biennale came about because one of the directors of the Biennale had seen my work in Italy 6 years before and felt a connection! In three words: Passionate, contemplative, resourceful.
How did you develop into the artist you are today?
My development as an artist has been a slow and methodical journey. I spent years finding my unique voice in my work before fully dedicating myself to art. Even now, there are edges to polish in my artistic identity and many new things to learn and incorporate into my art.  This continuous exploration of new ideas and relevance is very important, especially as I get older in an art world that gets younger and younger! I am very inspired by the immense talent and innovation within the art world today.

How would you describe your artistic style and the atmosphere it creates within your pieces?
I am most inspired by the Abstract Expressionists of the 60s and 70s in New York but I constantly search for new ideas and ways to work into my heavily processed style. I merge elements of abstraction and color field painting, infused with distinct twists, and connect music and sound to the visuals to give a deeper meaning.   My approach is very process-oriented and physical, allowing me to capture the light, depths, and emotions central to my work. This method creates an immersive atmosphere that invites viewers to engage deeply with the essence of each piece.  I want this atmosphere to invite the viewer to sit quietly and stare at the work or meditate on it.  Color and sound can calm the world. 
You primarily work with abstract art. Why did you choose this medium, and how did you get interested in abstraction in the first place?
Abstract art is a perfect form of expression. It doesn't dictate what to see or what emotion to feel; instead, it invites you to become part of the art. You can draw from your own experiences and emotions as you engage with it, creating a deeply personal and unique interaction with each piece. This open-ended, inclusive nature of abstraction is what captivated me and continues to inspire my work. I also enjoy living with my work. Instead of traditional studio visits, I invite collectors and curators to my home, where I have a large collection of my work. We sit and enjoy the art over wine or coffee, watching the work change as the light shifts, creating a more intimate and immersive experience.

Can you explain the process-oriented techniques you employ in your artwork, such as layering, sanding, and grinding, and how they contribute to the final result?
My technique is very physical and involves a lot of processes.  I typically work on a large stainless steel worktable, stretching the canvas over it and working with the painting flat. I apply several layers of gesso and polymers, sanding and reapplying each layer to build a rich, textured surface, which is also painted with a base coat that accentuates the final layers.   After this, I use oils, which I finely brush, grind into the canvas, then sand, reapply, and brush repeatedly more. This rigorous process creates a physical connection to my art, allowing me to engage intimately with each piece. This connection not only brings me joy but also enhances my appreciation for the craft and depth of my work.
In your statement, you mention how your art strikes a balance between control and chaos. How do you achieve this balance, and how does it affect the viewer's experience?
Abstract, by nature, is chaos and needs to have balance, composition, and beauty to hold the chaos.  It is colors and movement, and it asks your brain to find meaning in what it is showing you.  In the beginning, the control came from a series of 3" parallel lines that I used in my work. The lines, built up in oils, were like a staff for music where I could compose my music.  This eventually led to 3" grids.  All of this was an exploration of the power of the number 3.  3" lines, 3" grids, and the canvases are always divisible by 3, whether this is for you the holy trinity or numerology, a divine power in the number 3. Now my harmony comes more from the balance and movement of the colors on the surface and how the light interacts with all of it. The process now is the balance. 
You also mention your collaboration with musician Greg Walter. How did you develop this idea, and how does it enhance the audience's perception of your artwork?
Greg and I both attended Belmont University in Nashville.  As an undergrad, I was a voice major, so music was always a part of who I am.  Greg is a brilliant composer and musician, but he also has synesthesia, a condition in which he sees colors when he hears sounds.  He is the perfect collaborator for an abstract artist!  We have collaborated several times over the years, including the 2019 58th Venice Biennale, where Greg composed a three-movement piece of music that echoed the seven huge paintings that were shown.  By coincidence, the chapel was the home of Vivaldi and had amazingacoustics!  This exhibition led to the Pollock Krasner Foundation giving me the Prize for Creativity in 2019. 

Ultimately, what messages would you like to communicate with your art? 
Calm.  The world is so fucked up after COVID and all the political turmoil, we need stillness, mindfulness, and calm.  I want my art to question the world but also to create a serene space that evokes a feeling of peace every time you look at the art.  I want you to stare at the art and give it a few minutes each time you look, so you find another deeper layer in the work that pulls another emotion from your soul. 
You have been recently nominated as the 2024 Foundation Grant winner by the Pollock Krasner Foundation. What does it represent for your career? And how do you see it moving forward? 
The Pollock Foundation has been one of my biggest supporters over the years, and I am very grateful to them!  They are wonderful and one of the few organizations with a laser-focused path to supporting artists. Caroline Black, the director, is truly a gem! I won the Prize for Creativity from the PK in 2019 and became only the 3rd artist they had ever given this particular award to.  They supported my project "Processional" and the American Pavilion that year at the Venice Biennale.  
And lastly, what is one piece of advice you would give to a young, emerging artist?  
This is not a business for the faint of heart.  At some point, all artists deal with unscrupulous dealers and galleries that don't return calls or emails or simply just don't pay you.  Being an artist has less to do with art than it used to, and it takes some resilience and persistence to maneuver through.   I would also say that what you do matters, meaning what's on your resume is important, even if it doesn't always seem that way.  Do shows that push your boundaries and never stop experimenting and growing.   
 

Today, the Pollock-Krasner Foundation announces that it awarded $3,066,000 to 97 artists and nonprofit organizations during its July 2023–June 2024 grant cycle, providing essential support to artists in the United States and around the world. The geographic reach of this year’s grant cycle spans 10 countries—including 12 states and Washington, D.C. in the U.S.—with grantees from South Dakota, New York, Spain, and India, among other locations globally. The Lee Krasner Award, given by the Foundation to an individual in recognition of a lifetime of artistic achievement, is presented to Toba Tucker, a contemporary American photographer who has worked within a lens-based practice for over 50 years.
Pollock-Krasner Foundation 2023-24 Artist Grantees:Ebtisam Abdulaziz, Washington D.C., Ekta Aggarwal, Pasadena, CA, Manuel Aja Espil, Madrid, Spain, Elena Alonso, Madrid, Spain, Brett Amory, Oakland, CA, Claudia Angelmaier, Berlin, Germany, Paolo Arao, West Shokan, NY, Javier Arce, Barcelona, Spain, Aryz, Barcelona, Spain, Alice Attie, New York, NY, Steven Baris, Havertown, PA, Jill Baroff, Newburgh, NY, Betty Beaumont, New York, NY, Lucas Blok, Carmel, CA, Ernesto Caivano, New York, NY, Alex Callender, Easthampton, MA, Nicolas Camino, Madrid, Spain, Josely Carvalho, Hoboken, NJ, Claudio Correa, Madrid, Spain, Lucas de la Rubia, Madrid, Spain, Debsuddha, Kolkata, India, Chris Dorland, New York, NY, Navine G. Dossos, Aegina, Greece, John Edmonds, Brooklyn, NY, Gregory Edwards, Ridgewood, NY, Lola Flash, New York, NY, Christian Fuchs, Lima, Peru, Paul Graham, New York, NY, Ken Greenleaf, Waldoboro, ME, Magalie Guérin, Marfa, TX, Camilo Guinot, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Santiago Hernandez, Weymouth, MA, Meg Hitchcock, Lake Peekskill, NY, Mariko Hori, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Malleshi HV, Vadodara, India, Oliver Lee Jackson, Oakland, CA, Jason Jägel, San Francisco, CA, Zahra Quaid Jewanjee, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Kim Jones, New York, NY, Darina Karpov, Brooklyn, NY, Jason Kowalski, Monument, CO, Klaire A. Lockheart, Vermillion, SD, Amanda C. Mathis, Surprise, NY, David McDonald, Culver City, CA, Harold Mendez, Los Angeles, CA, Melissa Meyer, New York, NY, Anne Minich, Philadelphia, PA, Andrew Moore, Kingston, NY Sana Musasama, St. Albans, NY, Paul Noble, London, England, Inka Nowoitnick, Braunschweig, Germany, Aleksandar Popovic, Brooklyn, NY,Nathlie Provosty, Long Island City, NY, Raquel Rabinovich, Rhinebeck, NY, Daniel Ramos, New York, NY, Adam Raymont, Berlin, Germany, Renaud Regnery, Berlin, Germany, Lorna Ritz, Amherst, MA, Leslie J. Roberts, Brooklyn, NY, Sanjay Roy, New Delhi, India, Ben Schwab, Clifton Park, NY, Manjari Sharma, Pasadena, CA, Satya Dheer Singh, Delhi, India, Michael E. Smith, Cranston, RI, Michelle Stitzlein, Baltimore, OH, Pradeep Sukumaran, Thiruvananthapuram, India, Oscar Tuazon, Alhambra, CA, Toba Tucker, Greenport, NY, Todd Williamson, West Hollywood, CA, Mark Wilson, West Cornwall, CT, Steven Woodward, Ellison Bay, WI, William Yackulic, Oakland, CA, Isabelle Young, London, England & Kim Zumpfe, Long Beach, CA.
By Mark Westall • 25 July 2024
​FAD Magazine

“Track and Soul: the Intersection of Velocity and Introspection is the dual exhibit for Todd Williamson and Andreas Somogyi, opening with an artist reception Saturday, November 11, from 5pm until 7pm at Nicole Longnecker Gallery, 1440 Greengrass. Dr. The artists will be in attendance and the exhibit runs through January 6, 2024.
“Track and Soul” is an exploration of contrasts and harmonies. It questions the boundaries between the silent strength that Williamson’s abstract pieces exude and the roaring momentum in Somogyi’s artworks. The exhibition seeks to bridge the gap between the introspective nature of abstract expressionism and the raw, tangible emotions of the automotive world. It’s an invitation for viewers to move between moments of quiet contemplation and pulsating narratives.
The exhibition is set to engage audiences on multiple levels in a holistic, immersive experience. These spaces prompt the visitor to reflect, resonate, and even reinterpret the myriad themes present. “Track and Soul” is not just an exhibition—it’s a journey. By intertwining the profound depth of Todd Williamson’s abstract art with Andreas Somogyi’s vehicular dynamism, it promises to be a space where art becomes the language of both the soul and the senses, echoing the multifaceted rhythms of life itself.
“We are very excited to pair an artist with a long, important career beside an emerging artist,” said gallery owner Nicole Longnecker. “Todd is a traditional abstractionist with pieces in museum collection world-wide, while Andreas is an automotive-based impressionist just beginning to make a splash. I found the fact both artists are from Southern California adds to the contrast.”
TODD WILLIAMSON Todd Williamson was born and raised in Cullman, Alabama. In 1984 he began his artistic career with art and music study a Belmont University with a BA in 1988. In the following year, Williamson moved to California and studied at California State University, and UCLA, working towards his MFA. Since 2004, Williamson lives and works in West Hollywood, CA.
Williamson has exhibited extensively in both the United States and abroad. He was twice awarded by the Pollock-Krasner Foundation; for Creativity in 2019 and an Award Grant in 2010. Among other awards were the Artists Special Recognition-Art Non Stop International Film Festival (Buenos Aires), an Icon Award-Los Angeles Beverly Arts, Special Mention Award MAVV Museum, Bluduemila Associazione Sport & Arte – Best Foreign Artist (Naples, Italy), the ART 1307 Istituzione Culturale – Artistic Merit Award, (Naples, Italy), and the Artslant International – Abstract Showcase Award Winner.
ANDREAS SOMOGYI Andreas Somogyi’s passion for cars began at a very young age, eventually studying fine art at Centennial Academy in Montreal. It was there he discovered his natural talent and creativity for drawing cars. To follow his dreams, he ventured to Southern California where Andreas began a television career with automotive related television shows, including the hit television series “Overhaulin’” with Chip Foose on The Discovery Channel.
Andreas creates both small- and large-scale paintings using his unique expressionist style. This style combines his passion for cars and his artistic talent painting images of a car in motion, capturing the essence of speed. “As it is meant to be”. His paintings portray the raw emotion and movement of vehicles as he sees them, with an element of energy and erratic lines, combining bright colors so the viewer feels like they are in the driver’s seat.”
Reception: November 11, 2023 | 5–7 pm

Nicole Longnecker Gallery (Greengrass Location)
1440 Greengrass Drive
Houston, 77008 Texas

WHAT MAKES ABSTRACT ART GOOD?

What Makes Abstract Artwork Good?  
Abstract art has always gotten the response that anyone can do it but is it any good if they do and will it ever be valuable? Probably not.  All art has a complex web of things that make the art good, valuable, and worth collecting.  It has a long history of being passed down generation to generation or be auctioned off at higher and higher values.
Good art is judged on the technical issues of the way it is painted and constructed, and on the quality of the art itself. 
Does the art show the skills of a seasoned artist or the refined qualities of a professional artist with years of experience and a long and varied resume and exhibitions from around the world?  Do the layers of color and light in the artwork create interest and show the depths that exist on the surface of the canvas?
Is it original?  Does the artist have a recognizable visual language that is a strong proponent of who they are and what they have to say?  
When you look at this work, is it recognizable?  Does this artist have a body of work over many years?
Is the artwork relevant to the historical art background?  Can you see the influences of the great artists of the past?  Has it moved past what the referenced artists had to say and makes its own statement? 
Where has the artist's work been shown and who has the artist shown with in the past?  Has the work been shown with some of the great masters of this century and possibly past centuries?
Anyone can put paint on a canvas but distinguishing yourself in the very difficult art world is not an easy thing to do and is more difficult at this time in history.  The technique in abstract paintings can range from action to gestural to color fields or be a combination of many techniques that the artist has perfected over his many years of exploring the medium.  
Each technique has a high degree of difficulty that must be mastered.
If an artist is capable of creating a unique and recognizable technique, which is rare and much more difficult than it sounds, the artist will develop a following of collectors, curators, and institutions around the world and the value will increase every year. 
The lack of visual references in abstract art makes it more difficult because there is no reference to a landscape or person and the brain needs this.  Studies have shown that abstract art makes our brain work a bit more, exercising it!  This allows the viewer to be a part of the art.  
Todd Williamson
 
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by the New York Post. April 1, 2023

“Bridging the Abstract,” a group exhibition that opens April 6 at the Georges Bergès Gallery in Soho NYC, includes some of the first son’s latest works alongside paintings by Elaine de Kooning and Helen Frankenthaler.

Among the painters featured in “Bridging the Abstract” are Todd Williamson, a contemporary painter based in Los Angeles, and Hisako Kobayashi, a Japanese-born artist who lives in the East Village.
Frankenthaler, an American abstract expressionist painter, died in Connecticut in 2011.
Elaine de Kooning, a landscape and portrait artist, was married to Willem de Kooning, the Dutch-American abstract expressionist painter.

According to Wassily Kandinsky in his prophetic 1912 book, Concerning the Spiritual in Art, “the deeper the blue becomes, the more strongly it calls man towards the infinite”. Coming out of the COVID years and a worldwide lockdown, the world is looking inwards and questioning its existence. Unlike other colors, the color blue “Awakens (in him/her/they) a desire for the pure”. This desire is coming at us in all directions as we question how much we work and play and what we give our attention to. We are questioning where we live and how we interact with others. Kandinsky goes on to say, “The brighter it (blue) becomes, the more it loses its sound until it turns into silent stillness and becomes white.” White has long been associated with positive energy, protection, and a connection with God. ​

Joe Davidson’s art is specific to our eyes and calls to our minds to release the idea we have of what we expect to see. Dangling goldish sunflowers that are flat and pressed to the walls are sculptural and invite us to look closely to discover what they are saying, while soft white balloon sculptures hint at an uncovered joy, private thought or sexual fantasy.

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