Eisele Gallery presents “Corridors of Metaphors” an exhibition of new paintings by artist Thomas Hieronymus Towhey

This summer, Eisele Gallery presents new paintings by Cincinnati artist Thomas Hieronymus Towhey. “Corridors of Metaphors” represents the artist’s recent paintings in his signature style. The exhibition will be on view at Eisele Gallery from Friday June 28th – Saturday July 20th, 2024 with a reception for the artist on Friday, June 28th from 6-10 pm. Thomas Towhey is a Cincinnati native known for his interest in the psychological affect color, shape and space can have on the human mind, and creating whimsical worlds with this knowledge.

Towhey has spent a lifetime steadfastly marching to his own singular drum and richly kaleidoscopic view of the world. Almost all of his paintings come from his own imagination. He rarely starts a painting with a preconceived notion; however, on those occasions when he does, the original idea usually gives way to the act of painting as it opens new doors of perception. During the creative process, much of the original work is destroyed in the process of reaching for a more accomplished painting. He considers a painting successful when it strikes a chord or triggers a response with a viewer, maybe touching a memory of the past or perhaps prompting a dream of the future. There is always more than meets the eye in his paintings. Towhey has developed techniques using layers of transparent paint to create a subtext within a painting. Images reveal themselves to the viewer after time is spent looking at the painting. He is known for often hiding objects in his paintings, so the viewer can discover new things over time. His works challenge the viewer to see things in a new light, and his extraordinary use of vibrant colors invites you to share his artistic vision.

“Color unlocks the imagination, and saturated color demands attention,”

-Thomas Towhey

About Tom Towhey:

Thomas Hieronymus Towhey aka “2E,” was born in 1958 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Towhey grew up in Milford, raised by a single mom, with two sisters and one brother. He was highly competitive from an early age, but his aspirations as an athlete ended when he was injured in a car accident at the age of 16. From that day onward his full attention and passion focused on creating art in different mediums. As a young man, he even legally changed his name in honor of one of his artistic heroes, Hieronymus Bosch, the Dutch painter (c. 1450-1516) often called the first surrealist.  While he studied briefly at the Art Academy of Cincinnati and the University of Cincinnati, he is primarily a self-taught artist, “I quickly realized art school was not for me. Surrendering my individuality to learn to think and create like any other human seemed counterintuitive.” 

His career path led him to designing cards with Gibson Greetings for a while, and he traveled to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he maintained a studio for a year so he could work in the desert’s pure light and immerse himself in what he described as the first “real art scene” he had experienced. The intense light inspired him to use a wider palette of bright colors in his paintings, as he tried to capture the vibrancy of hues. “I saw what pure light really is. It heightens your senses.”

He is a founding member of the Maintraum Art Group. Towhey was instrumental in developing after school art programs for the Cincinnati YMCA which included outreach programs for Children’s Hospital Medical Center.  He also served as a voluntary art teacher for Cincinnati’s St. Rita’s School for the Deaf. Currently, Towhey lives and paints in Cincinnati.  His work has been represented by numerous galleries and is part of many public and private collections including most recently, Caza Sikes Gallery, Magdalena Gallery, Indian hill Gallery, Wash Park Gallery, and Pike Street Gallery.

About Eisele Gallery

Eisele Gallery, located in Cincinnati, Ohio has long been recognized as one of the most respected fine art galleries in the Midwest. The gallery features a large selection of Traditional and Contemporary artwork. They also work with museum quality estates and collections. Eisele Gallery’s renowned exhibition program fosters excellence within artistic practice, while promoting both emerging established nationally and internationally recognized artists.

Eisele Gallery Information

Website: www.eiselefineart.com Phone: (513) 791-7717

Location: Village of Mariemont 6936 Madisonville Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45227 Admission: Eisele Gallery is free and open to the publicParking: Free parking in rear of building

Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Friday: 10am - 6pm, Saturday: 10am - 4pm. Monday: By Appointment

Image: Tom Towhey: In the Garden of Hide and Seek, 2018-2024, Oil on canvas, 58” x 52”