Bio

Tom Sweetser is a Los Angeles-based visual artist known for vivid acrylic paintings inspired by Southern California's cars, architecture, and light. A graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology, he blends bold color and graphic precision to create cinematic scenes where memory meets fantasy, reimagining mid-century nostalgia through a modern lens. His works can be found in private collections in the United States and abroad.

Artist Statement

My work explores the vibrant intersection of cars, architecture, and the sun-drenched spirit of Southern California. Centered on Los Angeles and Palm Springs, I use bright color and a graphical style to celebrate the visual language that makes these cities so distinctive.

Each piece becomes a cinematic vignette where observation blends with imagination—a curated moment capturing the essence of Southern California’s allure: its relentless light and towering palms, its expressive car culture, the easy rhythm of its beaches, the sculptural glow of neon, and the legacy of its film history. Through these elements, I aim to give mid-century nostalgia a bold, modern reinterpretation, distilling the region’s optimism and timeless visual charm into vivid, contemporary compositions.

Awards

3rd Place, Painting - 52nd Annual Beverly Hills Art Show (Beverly Hills, CA) (May 2025)

2nd Place, Painting - 51st Annual Beverly Hills Art Show (Beverly Hills, CA) (May 2024)