We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Todd Williamson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Todd below.

Hi Todd, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Coming this January 2024, Belmont University (Nashville) has invited me to create a big exhibition called “Hope Abounds” in their new Fisher Center for the Performing Arts. Belmont has always been an incubator for creative talents and now I’m thrilled to return to where it all began for me, alongside my fellow alumnus, the brilliant composer Greg Walter.

In this exhibition, I’ve delved deeper into the essence of my abstract artistry creating a series of monolithic scale works that are centered around a combination of abstract oil painting and tapestry.

Through the large abstract forms and intricate dance of colors, I aim to evoke familiar emotions where the art embraces the viewer in a dance of color and movement and the music envelopes them.
My hope is that as you stand in front of my paintings, you’ll find pieces of memories, fleeting thoughts, or even dreams echoing back at you, grounding you in the midst of abstraction. The essence of this exhibition is to make the abstract tangible, to make the unfamiliar intimate. I’m truly excited to share this deeply personal artistic exploration with you.

Greg, with his unparalleled musical prowess, crafts compositions that go deep into emotion, mirroring the abstract nuances in my paintings. When our two worlds of art and music converge, the experience becomes a sensory symphony, a testament to the profound connections between visuals and sound.

What elevates the significance of this exhibition is the personal touch from Belmont’s leadership. The President of Belmont University DR. Gregory Jones, recognizing the profound impact of the arts, personally invited Greg and me to present our collaborative endeavor. It’s an affirmation from Belmont on the power of art and music to create unforgettable moments when they harmoniously blend. I can’t wait to share this experience with all who attend.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Over the years, I have carved a niche for myself in the contemporary artworld. This journey takes me around world where I have met Royalty, celebrities, and people from every walk of life. My journey into this realm was not just a career choice, but more of a calling, beckoning me to channel my emotions and life’s experiences onto the canvas. Art for me has always been both a mirror reflecting my innermost feelings and a window offering a glimpse into the world outside.

My art is a rich tapestry of emotions, experiences, and memories. Each piece serves as an ’emotional landscape’, inviting viewers on a personal journey of introspection. It’s not just about colors and shapes; it’s about the stories, the memories, and the moments that shape our lives. The harmonious play of color, space, and ambiance in my paintings is more than just a visual treat; it’s a dive into the depths of emotions and self-awareness.

In a world filled with transient art trends, I’ve always sought to offer something timeless with my art so that it resonates with a core of human experience and emotion.
What sets me apart is my ability to tap into this and present it in a way that’s both personal and relatable. My work, like “Processional” which was showcased at the 58th Venice Biennale in 2019, stands as a testament to my distinct vision. This was honored with a nod from the Pollock Krasner Foundation and the Prize for Creativity in 2020.

One of the achievements closest to my heart has been my collaborations with fellow artists and composers. Working with composer Greg Walter at the Venice Biennale in 2019 and now on the Belmont University exhibit for 2024 is an enlightening experience, blending the realms of sight and sound to offer viewers a holistic sensory journey.

At the end of the day, what I truly wish for my followers, fans, and potential collectors to understand is that my art is more than just brush strokes on a canvas. It’s a narrative, a chronicle of the human spirit and its journey through the highs and lows of life. I’m not just an artist; I’m a storyteller, and through my work, I invite you to share in my stories and perhaps find a bit of your own story reflected back.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

People! You could say I’m a bit of a people collector. I thrive on the interactions and collaborations that come my way, from partnering with composer Greg Walter to participating in international exhibitions. These relationships don’t just enrich my life; they also inject a layer of complexity and diversity into my work. Each individual I encounter becomes a muse in some form, adding a new color or texture to my artistic palette. In essence, the people I “collect” serve as living, breathing inspirations that constantly renew and refresh my creative vision and add to my quality of life as a whole.

My art isn’t meant to be a one-sided conversation. It aims to engage and evoke a response from the viewer. When people see my work, I want them to feel something, question something, or even find a part of themselves they didn’t know existed. This interaction, this dialogue between the art and the viewer, is what truly completes a piece.

Ultimately, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the lasting impact your work can have on people’s lives. It’s immensely gratifying to know that a creation of mine could evoke powerful emotions or spark meaningful discussions.
What I’m most proud of is the ability to touch lives and instigate change through my art.

People are not just an audience or market; they are co-creators, inspirations, and the legacy of my artistic journey. Without them, the art would remain incomplete, like a story without an audience. They are the most important aspect of being an artist.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Abstract art is often perceived as a riddle, a maze of colors, forms, and energies that don’t always portray the tangible world as we know it. This deviation from the concrete and recognizable can make abstract pieces seem elusive, even impenetrable, to many viewers.

Our minds, innately curious and adaptive, always search to find sense in the unknown. When faced with abstract art, there’s an instinctual quest to find patterns, parallels, and anything familiar. It’s a deep-seated cognitive reflex; our brain’s way of navigating and making sense of the enigmatic.

Colors, which are a big part of what my art is, are powerful storytellers. Since the dawn of time, they’ve held significant meanings and evoked specific emotions. The blue of the sky can elicit feelings of calm, the fiery red of a sunset might ignite passion or fear, and the green of a forest may convey serenity or envy.
When the form in abstract art is not easily read, the colors provide a sense of familiarity and peace. They become anchors, comforting our minds, and giving us points of relatability.
The use of colors is like speaking a universal language; it resonates with shared experiences and emotions and elicits things in the mind that may have been forgotten.

As we gaze on an abstract painting, amidst the oils and sweeping movements, the colors are what attract us, drawing from our personal and collective experiences. It’s a beautiful synergy; the mind’s quest for meaning and the solace provided by the spectrum of colors.

While abstract art might seem daunting at first glance, it invites viewers on a journey.
A journey where colors become comforting companions, guiding us through the terrain, helping us find a piece of ourselves within the canvas, and connecting us to something larger than ourselves.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ToddWilliamson.com
• Instagram: todd_williamson_art
• Facebook: [email protected]
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-williamson/
• Twitter: [email protected]
• Youtube: @toddwilliamson_art
• Other: https://www.thefishercenter.com/

Image Credits
Sheri Determan Dave Folkes