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“‘Tommy struggles with systems but might outgrow this as he develops his own internal standards of excellence.’” —Child psychologist on a young Tom Sachs

It was recently announced that Acquavella Galleries will mount the first-ever exhibition to solely focus on paintings by Tom Sachs, running November 5 through December 18, 2020. With collaborations with Nike and his widely acclaimed “space programs” to the Moon, Mars, and Europa under his belt, Sachs is one of the more recognized and adventurous artists working today. It will be thrilling to see one of the most esteemed galleries of blue-chip art exhibiting the paintings of this delightfully irreverent artist so well known for his unique approach to sculpture, bricolage, films, and performative installations.

In this TEDxPortland talk from April 2018, Sachs discusses his youth, how he finds inspiration in spite of himself, and the power of “sympathetic magic.”

From TEDxPortland:

Tom delivers an honest, vulnerable Talk on how to succeed as an artist in spite of your own creativity. He explains how to define your own internal standards of excellence by sharing his concept of sympathetic magic – how to make things real, like a Chanel Guillotine. By being honest and transparent with your methods and intentions, success will follow. He shares three core maxims that define his life: authenticity, intuition and transparency.

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A sculptor by priority, but also a willing participant in filmmaking, bricolage, painting, space exploration, and tea ceremonies, Tom makes his own rules. Playing with the idea of a consumer culture, Tom utilizes iconic brands to create his own unique take on pop culture or historical events, often highlighting the love and labor it takes to build what we so commonly use daily. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx