Artist Q&A: Tom Lopato

Being familiar with Tom Lopato’s work, David Simper was keen to catch the opening of his solo exhibition. He headed to the buzzing HIVE gallery on Church Street and caught up with the local artist.

I had chatted to Tom at an event at the Tea Amantes gallery – we had got onto the then upcoming Grundy Open Exhibition and coincidentally, when this exhibition opened, his piece was hung almost directly over mine on the wall. Having also seen his paintings on sale in the Topping Street Aunty Social outlet, I considered myself familiar with his work.

However, this had not prepared me for the variety that Tom has achieved in this exhibition. There is intense colour though to virtual monochrome. The exhibition is a retrospective going back over the last thirty years.

Tom has achieved a degree in fine art from the Kent Institute of Art and Design in Canterbury. In 1995, he was one of the students representing the UK in the New Contemporaries Art and Design exhibition in Taipei City, Taiwan. Tom has pieces in collections all over the world. The images are painted intuitively to show snap shots in time and place. Now he exhibits in what has become his home town of Blackpool.

There is a great deal of skill and creativity in these painting: such things never come to me and I am very jealous – I really need a reference pic. The abstract composition is very strong; the design strategy is excellent. The paint is blended where it needs to be and is starkly overlaid where it needs to be. I come back to the use of colour: it is frequently vibrant, but is never garish; monochrome and more pastel shades are used where appropriate. These would all really grace any wall.

I spoke to Tom and quizzed him about his work and working methods.

Who is your favourite artist? I wondered about a Mark Rothko influence.

Without doubt that would be Andy Warhol, on a par with Peter Blake. I did do my dissertation on Mark Rothko, who at the time probably was my favourite artist.

How have these influences worked into developing your own style?

Because I work visually, people say ‘don’t steal’, but you obviously use bits here and there and you get inspired and it sticks with you. Then you can create your own style over years, or months even when you’re young. You just carry on until you develop something that’s your own personality.

You colour palette is extremely interesting. Is this just what you feel while working or have the shades been selected objectively?

I like bright primary colours and always have done. I try to work with these, the works stand out, and not mix too much. I like to be vibrant.

Despite the use of bright colour, there is considerable diversity in you work and there are more restrained works – how is this managed?

Each piece is individual and you work it piece from a different perspective. So you make decisions on the day, or on the actual painting or work of art. It’s just intuition – I don’t think about it too much, it’s more a creative process that you learn to bring out without thinking. Don’t think about it too much.

You give your work titles. Is there meaning in the work before starting?

No. I would say 75% of the time, the title will come later. Obviously when I do landscapes of a specific area, that would give a title. Otherwise a title might be based on whatever I am looking at, at the time of painting. For an abstract piece, I would decide later on.

So what is the future for your artistic career?

I hope to stay in Blackpool – I have embraced the creative side of the town, it’s arts scene. I’ll see where this takes me, including the feedback I get. I’m involved with a couple of other projects. Hopefully I’ll be able to go on to better and bigger things, but if that doesn’t happen it doesn’t matter, because it’s not all about that, it’s about creating work.

Thanks to Tom for talking to me and giving me the low-down on his work and the process behind it. I’m sure all will wish him best wishes for the future.

I took another turn round the pieces. People were still coming into the gallery and earnest converations were being had. I spoke to a couple of chums. Thanks to the HIVE team for supporting us. I easily caught the service 6 bus back to the ranch. A pleasant evening, well spent.

The exhibition continues until the 4th of June 2025. It is in the cafe area, so you can eat or drink your food while admiring this fine exhibition.