Born in the late 1980s in England to creative parents, Thomas Thorby-Lister (Thom) migrated with his family to Australia as a child. Transplanting him from the cold, wet, and dark landscape of Britain – to the warm, bright, lush, and stark environment that is The Great Southern Land.
Encouraged to experiment with creativity in his youth, Thom went on to formally study art at university – Embedding himself in the creative scene of Sydney circa the 2000s – 2010s. Living in warehouses, skateboarding, gaining a solid reputation in the graffiti scene, establishing a variety of DIY business and learning. Always learning. Experiences that paved the foundation for Thom’s career.
Acrylic on Linen.
Lately Thom has begun creating art that explores the landscape and nature as both form and content. With many of his works created on site; outdoors, in the Australian wilderness. Leading to ethereal, dreamlike creations, that are strong, yet subtle – Which the viewer can enjoy and read differently through glance, or extended gaze. An experience akin to shifting one’s focus when viewing the Australian landscape through its unique, powerful light.
Wanting to learn more about Thom, his life, and art; we sent him some questions to answer over email.
Get to know the man, below…
Getting Acquainted
Name and date of birth?
Thomas Thorby-Lister
07/09/1988
City, state, and country you currently call home?
Sydney, NSW, Australia.
City, state, and country you are from?
England, United Kingdom.
To help us to get to know you – Please share a memory, or two, or more if you wish; from the stages of your life noted below:
* Your childhood:
Moving.
I have lived in over 30+ homes with my family growing up, so moving was a big part of my childhood, and I loved it.
The idea of packing up all your life’s belongings, clearing out accumulated items and then starting in a fresh new space was, and is, very refreshing.
* Your teenage years:
Restless.
I was a teenage boy, full of energy, ready to leave the house of his parents and move to the city to experience life beyond the torture of school.
* Your 20s:
Exploring.
I lived in raving warehouses, dodgy share houses, and run down mansions; pouring myself into my creative dreams.
Art school led into building my own screen printing studio, building my own hand-pressed skateboards, starting a tee-shirt business, and running around the city with a spray can.
Wild and creative.
* Your 30s so far:
Building.
Having pushed through all the creative paths and following my nose for years I finally found myself back at where art school left me, a painter and printmaker. Keen on playing the long slow game of the fine art world, interested in making work that spoke to my love of the landscape and nature.
Here I currently remain…
Personal motto(s)?
“If you’re thinking about, do it.”
As in, don’t hesitate, don’t wait for the ‘right’ moment, don’t worry if you don’t have all the tools or materials.
Just take action on that inspiring moment and start.
What role did toys play in your childhood?
… and any favorites you remember?
I grew up without a TV for most of my childhood and teenage years, so toys and comics formed my creative imagination.
My mother was a hand-painted animator, so all those old cartoons filled my childhood, fuelling my love of play.
No one toy stands out for me, but I vividly remember the boxing kangaroo puppet I bought from the puppet shop in The Rocks, that little cave of amazing puppets and toys.
Creativity Questions
When and why did you first become interested in art and everything creative?
… and any pivotal moments or influences?
Having a creative family, my mother an animator and artist herself, and my father a craftsman who created incredible things with wood, I grew up encouraged in my artistic creativity and making with my hands.
If you had to explain your creative endeavors to some recently crash-landed aliens…
What would you tell them?
Smearing rock-goop onto matted grass is my hobby!
Please probe me gently….
Who are some of your favourite artists, filmmakers, and musicians?
…and what is it about their works that inspire and move you?
Early on the work of William Kentridge inspired my drawing practice and merged my love of animation with fine art.
Since art school, and to this day, I have always loved the work of David Noonan, his quiet palette and liminal images inspire me greatly.
If people wanted to check out your stuff, work with you, or buy some of your wares – Where should they visit and how should they get in touch?
Have a geese at my Instagram: @thomasthorbylister, or take a deeper dive on my website: www.thomasthorbylister.com
Any news, upcoming projects, or releases to share?
Having just packed down two exhibitions, one in Sydney at Woollahra Gallery and one in Newcastle at Wester Gallery, I am taking a moment to recover and hide away in the studio for a bit.
Come have a studio visit and a cuppa.
Acrylic-on-Linen
Odds & Ends
If you could live in any place, during any historical era – When and where would that be?
… and why would you choose that time and place?
Apocalyptic future somewhere off-planet, despite the obvious downsides – I love an apocalyptic sci-fi!
What are the top 3 items you own?
… and what is it about each of them that you so love?
Ok so this is definitely difficult.
Being a very minimal person, the few objects I do own and have held onto are each important to me.
A small ceramic lion that somehow followed me from aged 3 years old in the UK to the present day.
My memory of this object is the comforting feeling of the cold and smooth ceramic in my mouth, I guess it was my informal ‘dummy’, or pacifier, and it’s one of my oldest childhood objects I own.
My dad’s first knife, a German Carl Kammerling (CK) pocket knife made with a real lambs foot blade.
Gifted to me by my father, he used it for many years as an apprentice carpenter.
It holds sentimental value for me.
A recently acquired sculpture – a solid aluminium paperweight of Mount Yake-Dake in Kamikochi National Park, Japan.
I climbed this incredible mountain, with an elevation of 2,455mtrs. It is the only active-volcano among the Japan Alps, and it was an incredible and challenging experience that will stay with me for life.
The bright yellow sulphur caves spewing gasses, the techno-blue lake at the top and the other-worldly views. The object inspires my practice and my love of topography, maps and mountains.
A much loved object of Thom’s.
If you had to sum up your home-country, Australia, in one object – What would it be?
Why did you choose it?
… and how does it represent Australia to you?
I would chose a personal object that symbolises so-called Australia for me.
About six years ago my parents stayed out in the Western Desert of the Spinifex people, running and managing the only store for 3 days drive in any direction. Here they met and connected with the local Aboriginal arts community.
They gifted me a small painting by the talented Fred Grant, a Pitjantjatjara senior initiated man, which depicts Pirilyi the place of the Kurgkarangkalpa Tjukurpa (Seven Sisters). This painting is my most treasured artwork in my collection, it represents the important cultural history of this country and its people.
Always was, always will be; Aboriginal Land.
Please describe your last dream in detail…
I happened to draw a snippet of my last dream on my fridge as I attempted to explain it to my girlfriend haha.
It was vaguely about spiders in our home, long thin legged ones with delicate bodies, they moved slowly and then stood up, human-like in their posture, to discuss important matters with me.
They felt like spirits and their message was deeply profound, yet un-describable in words.
What does God mean to you?
No one-thing, definitely not organised religion.
Perhaps all things simultaneously?
Of everything you have done so far, what would you most like to be remembered for?
That one time when I managed to cook the perfect roast chook.
Links
- Thomas Thorby-Lister – Website
- Thomas Thorby-Lister – Instagram
- Thomas Thorby-Lister – Email: tom.thorbylister@gmail.com
All images supplied by Thom, or sourced online.
