Tom Cross has been producing works of art for over thirty years. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois and worked at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago before leaving academia and pursuing a life of art. His art appeals to a cellular level, and expresses various spiritual visions and insights.
'Spirit Food: Selected Works of Tom Cross Gallery'
Tom's first published book of his work and is available for purchase. Anyone, of any station, is now able to hold and own a piece of his vision.
"I have been enhancing and annoying peoples lives audibly, pictorially, and dermagraphically since my birth in 1950. On that day, January 19, 1950 the spirits tattooed me inside and out, sold me to the Cross Circus, and the traveling show began. We traveled from Oregon to Maine and all the stops in between. The Ring Master and his Cosmistress have retired to Maine. My family and I set up a tattoo studio, Smokey Banana. I paint in my studio at home." - Tom Cross
Tom has always been an artist exploring many different mediums throughout his carrier, he has also been tattooing since the late 70s. He has tattooed in the Denver area for twenty years. He has been the owner of Smokey Banana Tattoo for fifteen years. Tom tattoos not only as a carrier, but as a way to connect with people. He tattoos a large variety of people that all 'come to play'. If you can dream it, think it, or somewhat explain it, Tom can tattoo it. You can visit Smokey Banana in Broomfield, Colorado, or find it on the web at www.SmokeyBananaTattoo.com
My paintings are grouped from different times of Life, to Subject Matter, to Spiritual, to Mathematical, to Self Portraits. All paintings and drawings can be reproduced through the process of Giclée, any size on canvas or paper. Enjoy!
This set of paintings is my most recent. I painted from October to May 2008-2009.
This set of paintings is from October to May 2007-2008
I paint from October to May. Therefore, these are from 2006-2007. They seem to have something to do with all time and space constantly overlapping. They are all acrylic on canvas, in the size of 28x30 and 36 x 40.
These paintings are of the time of 2004 to 2005. Most are abstraspace and fall under the series of "Do the Math". Three of these paintings are dream related and are shown on another part of the site.
"Do the Math" series are paintings and drawings that span over many years. While doing these pieces I sense solving a mathematical equation in colorful abstract manner.
These paintings are acrylic on canvas approximately 18 x 24 inches.
These are oil paintings 3ft to 4ft x 4ft to 5ft in size. Having been painted in the mid 90's and early 2000'sthey are part of the series of Abstraspace and "Do the Math". Also, there has been an ongoing series the last 30 plus years called "The Spirits Lineup". I would encourage anyone curious about any piece, series, or dream related picture to contact me.
These next paintings are 3 ft to 4ft x 4ft to 5ft in size. They are ceremonial dream images.
These five paintings are titled "The Spirits Line Up". It is a visual on how the thoughts, the fingertips, the sound of the gods line up. They weave through all the time and all space, each rolling in and manifesting it's self as they are called upon.
These self-portraits have been drawn and painted over the years.
These are large ink drawings, averaging 4½ x 5 ft to 6 ft. These are the first pictures from my new studio with tall walls and very open space. I drew the pictures in 2005-2006 seasons.
These are colored pencil drawings relating to dreams and visions. Most are telling stories.
These drawings were done in Alliance, Nebraska approximately 20 to 30 years ago. The railroad pictures are from when I was a Gandy Dancer and laying rail through Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Colorado.
These are three or four pictures that were stolen from my Gallery/Tattoo Studio approximately 15 years ago. They are all colored pencil ranging in size of 3 ft to 4 ft x 4ft to 5 ft. If you ever see these pictures, given them my best and I hope to see them in the future. Look at them closely for they will tell an incredible story. I remember them to be quite powerful.
These two are colored pencil and large. They are social and political in their forecast.
These are examples of some of the poles I have carved and painted. Most are lodge pole pine and are 8 to 10 ft tall.
In stretching the boundaries of art with function: Tom Cross has created Eco Art Tubes. One foot by twelve feet circular paintings. The tubes contain a low decible fan that draws the warmth from the ceiling to the floor.
