Tom Burtonwood: Art, Philosophy, Community and Pragstraction

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This week on noseyAF, Tom Burtonwood comes to speak I sit down with Chicago-based multidisciplinary artist Tom Burtonwood on nsoeyAF Live to talk about his recent exhibition at 21C Museum Hotel and his ongoing project, A Cube is a Rectangle. Tom’s work blends drawing, sculpture, and animation, engaging deeply with ideas of repetition and transformation inspired by philosopher Gilles Deleuze.

We also explore and brainstom on Tom’s new and brewing artistic movement and philosophy—Pragstraction—a fusion of pragmatism and abstraction that encourages artists to embrace constraints while experimenting with non-objective forms. Tom shares how this approach connects to community building and creating a more supportive, collaborative art world.

If you’ve ever wondered how artists navigate the digital era, build movements, and stay rooted in their values, you’ll want to hear this conversation.

What we talk about

The origins and evolution of A Cube is a Rectangle
How “Pragstraction” blends pragmatism and abstraction in art
The role of repetition and transformation in Tom’s cube sculptures and animations
Building supportive artist communities instead of competitive ones
The future of art in the digital age

Things We Mentioned

All about Tom Burtonwood

You’re gonna love Tom—he’s a multidisciplinary artist and educator, born in sunny Manchester and raised in the North of England, now calling Chicago home since 2001 (class of Stanley Kubrick, no less). He’s an Associate Professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he brings his passion for sculpture, drawing, animation, and sound to the next generation of artists. Tom’s work explores perception, transformation, and the ways art can spark community and social change.

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Chapters:

• 00:15 - A New Beginning

• 02:41 - Introduction to Tom Burtonwood and His Artistic Journey

• 10:03 - The Evolution of Artistic Inspiration

• 18:29 - Introducing Pragstraction: A New Art Movement

• 24:13 - The Impact of Drawing on Memory and Consciousness

• 28:22 - Exploring Shapes: Philosophy and Practice

• 34:23 - Exploring Pragstraction: Community and Collaboration in Art

• 42:05 - Transitioning to New Artistic Ventures

• 44:24 - Exploring Collaborative Art Through Technology

• 52:31 - Exploring the Intersection of Art and Animation

• 58:32 - Exploring the Intersection of Sound and Animation

Connect with Tom Burtonwood

Website: tomburtonwood.com
Tom on Instagram

Connect with Stephanie

Support & Feedback

Episode Credits

Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!)

Lyrics: Queen Lex

Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam

Break Instrumentals: Aubrey Modium