Will Thurman

Biography
Populated with hybrid characters  creatures part human, part animal, part object  Will Thurman's  paintings reflect a disorienting state of existence; the deluge of storylines makes it difficult to tell which  way is up. Thurman sends us tumbling through a parallel universe not quite distinct from ours, where  the comedic blends with the downright bleak and sadistic.

Many of his canvases contain paintings within paintings  mise en abyme that draw attention to the  plethora of lenses through which a single story can be told — and retold, and retold. Thurman is  meticulous in his expression; for the artist painting is disciplined, routine labor. Yet despite such control  over his own practice, his artworks offer a singular freedom: to place oneself within his scenes, navigate  the topsy-turvy landscape, and intervene in their happenings.

Will Thurman (born 1989, New York) received his academic training at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the U.S. After completing his studies in 2009, he moved to Vietnam and worked as a reporter for a local crime tabloid sometimes taking assignments in Cambodia where he also boxed semi professionally. Thurman has lived in many regions of Vietnam preferring the countryside. He  is currently based in Tallinn, Estonia.
Works
  • Will Thurman, Knowing how to play, 2022
    Knowing how to play, 2022
  • Will Thurman, Lessons in abstraction from a friday afternoon detention (Education) tv:, 2022
    Lessons in abstraction from a friday afternoon detention (Education) tv:, 2022
  • Will Thurman, Culture Thieves and Mythmaking, 2022
    Culture Thieves and Mythmaking, 2022
  • Will Thurman, Prizefight from Downunder, 2022
    Prizefight from Downunder, 2022
  • Will Thurman, Speeding car on CA-HW1 cascades into concrete barrier, and Hippopotamus unknowingly wades in front of waterfall., 2022
    Speeding car on CA-HW1 cascades into concrete barrier, and Hippopotamus unknowingly wades in front of waterfall., 2022
  • Will Thurman, The Elusiveness of Freedom, 2022
    The Elusiveness of Freedom, 2022
  • Will Thurman, Arriving on Fate, 2022
    Arriving on Fate, 2022
  • Will Thurman, Clearly Stated, 2022
    Clearly Stated, 2022
  • Will Thurman, Big Black Cats, 2022
    Big Black Cats, 2022
  • Will Thurman, Overexertion can be counterproductive, 2022
    Overexertion can be counterproductive, 2022
  • Will Thurman, The __ variety of penguin is __ meters in height, 2022
    The __ variety of penguin is __ meters in height, 2022
  • Will Thurman, Caught’a Case of the Blues, 2022
    Caught’a Case of the Blues, 2022
  • Will Thurman, Dirty, dirty rain, 2022
    Dirty, dirty rain, 2022
  • Will Thurman, A Fine Pair, 2022
    A Fine Pair, 2022
  • Will Thurman, Left-handedness, 2022
    Left-handedness, 2022
  • Will Thurman, Nighttime, 2022
    Nighttime, 2022
  • Will Thurman, X-mas in the Tropics’, 2022
    X-mas in the Tropics’, 2022
  • Will Thurman, Pickup basketball in Miami and in Âm-ê-ríc-ă they drive police trucks on the beach, 2022
    Pickup basketball in Miami and in Âm-ê-ríc-ă they drive police trucks on the beach, 2022
  • Will Thurman, Ox without an oxcart, 2022
    Ox without an oxcart, 2022
  • Will Thurman, songs that stick, 2021
    songs that stick, 2021
  • Will Thurman, The crisp, hard, sweet-sour fate of the Vagrant (5/5), 2021
    The crisp, hard, sweet-sour fate of the Vagrant (5/5), 2021
  • Will Thurman, The crisp, hard, sweet-sour fate of the Vagrant (2/5), 2021
    The crisp, hard, sweet-sour fate of the Vagrant (2/5), 2021
  • Will Thurman, The crisp, hard, sweet-sour fate of the Vagrant (1/5), 2021
    The crisp, hard, sweet-sour fate of the Vagrant (1/5), 2021
  • Will Thurman, Grey Skies, 2021
    Grey Skies, 2021
  • Will Thurman, Bluek Seas, 2021
    Bluek Seas, 2021
  • Will Thurman, Off into the forbidden rubber forest, 2021
    Off into the forbidden rubber forest, 2021
  • Will Thurman, Red leather, Warthogs, and Wandering Monks past Midnight, 2021
    Red leather, Warthogs, and Wandering Monks past Midnight, 2021
  • Will Thurman, To Fancy, 2021
    To Fancy, 2021
  • Will Thurman, First it was about God.Then it was about Money., 2021
    First it was about God.Then it was about Money., 2021
  • Will Thurman, The Association of Wild Rabid Animals, 2021
    The Association of Wild Rabid Animals, 2021
  • Will Thurman, Listen to the green blob , 2021
    Listen to the green blob , 2021
  • Will Thurman, Warm yourself under the pinkish-red smear, 2021
    Warm yourself under the pinkish-red smear, 2021
  • Will Thurman, Stand high above the turquoise abstraction, 2021
    Stand high above the turquoise abstraction, 2021
  • Will Thurman, Own the orangeness, 2021
    Own the orangeness, 2021
  • Will Thurman, Goodbye forest, goodbye sand, goodbye future: the enemy, the foe---The Excavator, 2021
    Goodbye forest, goodbye sand, goodbye future: the enemy, the foe---The Excavator, 2021
  • Will Thurman, Event, 2020
    Event, 2020
  • Will Thurman, It Already Happened. You Can't Stop It, 2020
    It Already Happened. You Can't Stop It, 2020
  • Will Thurman, Newness, 2020
    Newness, 2020
  • Will Thurman, Savagery, 2020
    Savagery, 2020
  • Will Thurman, Studder, 2020
    Studder, 2020
  • Will Thurman, The fall down. The come up., 2020
    The fall down. The come up., 2020
  • Will Thurman, Hearing the chatter, finding a sound. To TH, 2020
    Hearing the chatter, finding a sound. To TH, 2020
  • Will Thurman, Then, breakthrough (Faith). TO QNH, 2020
    Then, breakthrough (Faith). TO QNH, 2020
  • Will Thurman, Error, 2019
    Error, 2019
  • Will Thurman, Mr. Rat holds up un-expecting World, 2019
    Mr. Rat holds up un-expecting World, 2019
  • Will Thurman, Pig in Guillotine, 2019
    Pig in Guillotine, 2019
  • Will Thurman, Prayer, 2019
    Prayer, 2019
  • Will Thurman, Rescue, 2019
    Rescue, 2019
  • Will Thurman, Desire, 2018
    Desire, 2018
  • Will Thurman, Fall, 2018
    Fall, 2018
  • Will Thurman, Games and those who watch them, 2018
    Games and those who watch them, 2018
  • Will Thurman, Labor, 2018
    Labor, 2018
  • Will Thurman, Praying to the unholy, don't collect sacred objects, and it's hard to dry clothes in the rain, 2018
    Praying to the unholy, don't collect sacred objects, and it's hard to dry clothes in the rain, 2018
  • Will Thurman, Same old jingle, 2018
    Same old jingle, 2018
  • Will Thurman, The good and the bad both fight. Fishing is a pastime. And so is sadism., 2018
    The good and the bad both fight. Fishing is a pastime. And so is sadism., 2018
  • Will Thurman, I can’t…I won’t…I need rest. a day off….just one day off (sneakers get laced up)…can’t…won’t do it…(feet start moving); ahhhh exercise—be worse without you., 2018
    I can’t…I won’t…I need rest. a day off….just one day off (sneakers get laced up)…can’t…won’t do it…(feet start moving); ahhhh exercise—be worse without you., 2018
  • Will Thurman, Uncrossable lands always attract. The oh-so-good. And they like to do harm., 2018
    Uncrossable lands always attract. The oh-so-good. And they like to do harm., 2018
Exhibitions
Art Fairs