Curriculum vitae
Tommy Hoppe
Artist and theorist working across graphite drawing, large scale color painting, and written theory.
Atlanta, Georgia · hoppe@tommyhoppe.com · @tommyhoppeart
Australian born and educated in London and Pittsford, New York, Hoppe entered college with the Primary Staff already designed and seven theory volumes written during an earlier period in the barn. After brief periods at the Maryland Institute College of Art and Syracuse University, the dean of the Visual Arts department at Syracuse encouraged him to pursue a self-taught path. Stone Canoe, published by Syracuse University Press, records five years in a small studio deep in the birch forest at Powder Mill Park in Victor, New York, and twenty four books of theory. That work established the foundations of CR1, a shared language for color and music.
Selected solo exhibitions
2025Abstraction of the Porcelain Forest, Dunwoody Farmhouse, Atlanta
Instrumental Color Studies, Canaltown Gallery, Rochester
2024The Blu Giraffe, Dunwoody Gallery, Atlanta
Surreal Reveries, Abstraction of Dreams, 1 West, New York
Dorian's Dream, Canaltown Gallery, Rochester
2007Adoration of the Female Form, 717 Gallery, New York
2006Ambrielle, Chelsea Art Museum, New York
The Split of the Structure, Jan Larsen Fine Art, theXpo at Gallerie, New York
2005The Story of Dorian Orange, Jan Larsen Fine Art, theXpo at Gallerie, New York
Introducing the Private Collection of Thomas Hoppe, The Hoppe Estate, Pittsford
2000Move*ment presents Thomas Hoppe, Jackal Studios, SoHo, New York
Selected group and duo exhibitions
2026Convergence, Fulton Center, New York
Converging Realities, Residencia Corazón, La Plata, Argentina
2025Prelude, with Linda OHBoN, Dunwoody Farmhouse, Atlanta
2024Lines and Hues, with Linda OHBoN, Sandy Springs
Opening Night Exhibition, Dunwoody Gallery, Atlanta
2004In2Words: Numbers, Target Gallery, Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria
2002Barometer, Cynthia Broan Gallery, New York
2000Move*ment group exhibition, SoHo, New York
Lectures and talks
2026CR1, A Unified Language of Color and Music, Parts 1 and 2, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina
2013Lectures on the Fusion of Color, Music and Geometry, St Bonaventure College, New York
Publications and writing
2017Stone Canoe, Number 12, Syracuse University Press. Ganesha, pencil on paper, reproduced with contributor biography.
2007Symphonic Chromatic Theory, self-published monograph, edition of 2000.
CurrentForty nine completed handwritten theory volumes, with the fiftieth in progress. Sixty color plates and physical teaching tools including the CR1 Mode Dial and Primary Staff.
Press
2000Sam Lubell, PULSE; Partying With an Artistic Excuse, The New York Times, March 5, Style section, page 9003.
2013SBU-TV, featured interview and spotlight segment.
Awards
1999International Airbrush Action, First Prize
1996Hallmark Scholastic Art Award, Gold Key
1995Presidential Scholar, Maryland Institute College of Art
Full Scholarship, Syracuse University, Illustration
Residencies and collections
2026Residencia Corazón, La Plata, Argentina, artist in residence, April to June
2024Private collection, New York, acquisition of more than forty works
2015Permanent collection, Shanghai, China
Education and independent study
Before collegeIndependent barn studio period. The Primary Staff was designed and the first seven theory volumes were written.
1995Maryland Institute College of Art, Presidential Scholar, one of three. Returned to the barn after roughly one week.
1996 to 1997Syracuse University, Illustration, full scholarship. Entered as a second semester sophomore and left after about three months at the dean's recommendation.
1997 to 2000Extended independent studio period, Powder Mill Park, Victor, New York. Returned in early spring 1997 and emerged for a SoHo exhibition in March 2000. Stone Canoe records five years across the barn periods and twenty four theory volumes.
2000 to presentIndependent scholarship in color and music theory and geometric composition.
Professional
2000 to 2017Dorian Orange, motion design studio, New York. Built and creatively directed. Clients included Marc Ecko, Adidas, Elle, InStyle, Mercedes-Benz, Timex, Ford, Samsung, Lincoln, Fleur Du Mal, Roc-A-Wear, and Coca-Cola.
