Tom Watson
About the Artist
From the humble beginnings of experimenting with a firecracker and a bottle at the age of six, Tom Watson's life has been a journey defined by a unique vision, much like the monocular perspective of a camera. Born in the 1950s in Staten Island, New York, as one of nine children, Tom's early challenges with vision catalyzed his passion for photography, a medium where he could prove his exceptional visual capabilities.
Tom's dedication and talent were evident early on. He excelled at the School of Visual Arts, an achievement that led to a solo show at the prestigious Camera Club of New York, founded in 1884 by Alfred Stieglitz. This gallery, the first to honor photography as an art form, marked the beginning of Tom's illustrious career.
The opportunities continued to unfold. While still in school, his thesis instructor, the renowned fashion photographer James Moore, recognized Tom's potential and offered him an assistant position. This marked Tom's foray into the glamorous world of fashion photography, a realm where he has thrived for over 40 years. His career is adorned with over 50 fashion magazine covers, including illustrious names like ELLE, VANITY FAIR, GLAMOUR, and HARPER’S BAZAAR.
Tom's artistic expression transcends beyond magazine covers. He showcased a collection of his works at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in the Louvre Museum in Paris, reflecting his first trip to Japan. More recently, he held a solo show in Paris titled "FLASHBACK," revisiting his finest fashion assignments from the late 1990s and early 2000s, all captured with his distinctive outdoor flash photography technique. Further, his recent work was featured in a prestigious gallery in Uzès, France, in a solo show.
Tom Watson's expertise and eye for beauty have also been sought after by major brands for worldwide advertising campaigns, including Cerruti, ClubMed, Trussardi, Canon Camera, Desigual, and more.
Art works I Projects
Solo Show. The Camera Club of New York, founded in 1884 by Alfred Stieglitz, it's the oldest art space dedicated to photography in the world. Tom Watson was invited to expose his work while attending the school of visual arts, where he graduated with honors.
Exhibition at Musée des arts décoratifs in the Louvre Paris
His images reflect a very strange impression he had on his first visit to Japan. He was repeatedly amazed when looking down at his feet. The rules state that one must wear the proper footwear in every situation. His feet are bigger than the average Japanese person’s, so he had to squeeze into sandals.
FLASHBACK Show in Paris
This Solo Show was presented in a gallery in Paris. It gave him reason to revisit many of his best fashion assignments from the late '90s and early 2000s, all of which he shot with flash outdoors.
50 covers from ELLE, Vanity Faire, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar
