Thomas has a unique artistic style, which he terms "Imaginistic", leaving the onlooker to deduct the ultimate conclusion of what his images truly portray. In December 2006, Thomas established the art movement "Imaginism", primarily to accommodate his own artistic style, and in compliment to the poetic movement of the same name.
Although Thomas has a varied portfolio of work, he is inspired by female beauty, capturing the sensuality and sexuality of woman, which remains his principal subject matter. His figurative works have gained international recognition, and Thomas has works in both private and public collections worldwide.
Additionally, Thomas has ventured into the field of design, working in collaboration with both fashion and commercial designers, he fusions his work into custom made artworks, clothing, furnishings and interior decorations, using a variety of support materials and techniques.
Thomas works primarily with natural and ambient light, preferring this to the artificial environment of studio lighting. He excels in the manipulation of light, often working at the extremes of both high-key and low- key photography. His work has been quoted as “bordering on experimental, focusing less on the subject and more on the formal aspects of the image, the light, movement and composition. In particular movement, which give his images an intense atmosphere, masking the formal subject and replacing it with sensuality and suspense”. Thomas’ images have been described as “surreal”, “manifesting within a dream” and even as “a gift from heaven”.
In 2006, Thomas was awarded the title of “Spider Fellow”, having won a prestigious “Nominee Award” in “The Black and White Spider Awards”. The Black and White Spider Awards is "the leading international award honoring excellence in black and white photography". Thomas was further honored when he won a further 5 Nominee Awards in the 2007 competition. Thomas has also won “Nominee Awards” in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 “Photography Masters Cup”. The Photography Masters Cup is a global online award show recognizing excellence in color photography. Additionally, Thomas received an “Honorable Mention” award in both the 2008 and 2009 IPA-Lucie Awards in the Fine Art Nude category, for his series entitled “Romantica” and "Nude Shadows". In 2009, Thomas was also a winner in the London International Creative Competition (LICC), for his art-nude series "Wrapped".
Thomas is currently working on several books publications, which includes his first monograph to be titled "Imaginism", which in limited edition version, will incorporate a specially scored music DVD, providing the reader with a full sound and vision experience.
Thomas’ work is published in the first volume of "The World's Greatest Black & White Photography", the "Photography Masters Cup Yearbook 2008" and “The Erotic Review Photographer of the Year Prize – The Book" (both 2008 & 2009 editions). His work is also published in many magazines (both print and online), including USA Playboy (print) and GQ Magazine Girl’s Gallery (online). Thomas has also been featured in numerous magazine articles, blogs and TV interviews.
Institutional Collections: Thomas' artworks can be found in many private and public collections world-wide, including; Davis Polk Wardwell, Sony Corporation, Universal Corporation, Shanghai University and Chi Mei Museum, to name but a few. He has and continues to exhibit his work internationally, including the 2009 Venice Biennale and the International Art Show in Cannes, France. Thomas maintains a regular international exhibition programme, including numerous solo exhibitions.
Artist’s Statement: My work is both conceptual and representational. My principal focus is on the creation of images which I define as "Imaginistic". Be it the beauty of the female form or that of an architectural monument. Such images will leave your imagination to complete the interpret what is truly being portrayed. You will see (or not see) as much (or as little) as you so desire. Your own imagination is primarily the key to your own personal interpretation of much of my work. "You perceive what you wish to perceive, there is no truth, perhaps no reality, it is for you to decide. Let your imagination be the key to your interpretation of realism. That is imaginism" ~ Thomas Hodges |
