Artist Statement

My current work originates from a continued interest in men - especially their personas, bodies, desires, tensions, and intimacy.   My approach includes juxtaposing the figures, both current and from my archives, with other elements to stimulate new narratives. These images are matched, often by chance, to further explore relationships that transcend time and space.

My early work began with photographs of performance and dance artists in Philadelphia.  It moved into studio work and was heavily influenced by the AIDS epidemic. In place of a documentary approach, I leaned on my film and theatre training to create staged spaces. Images were improvised in collaboration with friends - some of whom are wrapped, masked, and veiled. Influenced by George Platt Lynes and inspired by film noir, these photographs were made while the veil of AIDS hung heavy over the gay community.

Artist Biography

Thomas Moore is currently based in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware after many years in Philadelphia.  In addition to his art practice, he has taught photography at the University of the Arts, curated photography exhibits, and fundraised for several non-profit organizations. He has served on the boards of AIDS Delaware, Tilt Institute for the Contemporary Image, The Photo Review, and The Print Center.

Solo exhibitions include Moore College of Art, Level 3 Gallery, Book Trader Gallery in Philadelphia,PA, Delaware Theatre Company in Wilmington, DE, and The Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, NJ.

Selected Group exhibitions include The Print Center, Philadelphia, PA; University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA; Silver Eye Center for Photography, Pittsburgh, PA; Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA; Port of History Museum, Philadelphia, PA, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA, Santa Bannon Fine Art, Bethlehem, PA, Carspecken-Scott Gallery, Wilmington, DE, and Paul Cava Gallery, Philadelphia, PA.

Collections include the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Lehigh University, the State Museum of Pennsylvania, and Millersville University.

He received a BFA in Communications and Theatre at Temple University in 1977, and an MFA in Photography at the University of Delaware in 1989.