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EDUCATION

• 2014 MFA with Commendation, Painting (secondary concentration: Art History), The University of Iowa

• 2013 MA, Painting (secondary concentration: Art History), The University of Iowa

• 2004 MA, Philosophy, The University of Chicago

• 2001 BA, Magna cum laude with honors in Philosophy, Philosophy and Mathematics, Knox College

VISUAL ART EXHIBITIONS & PROJECTS

2023

• Convivium 7 (Portfolio of images)

2022

• Meditations, Sterling College, Sterling, KS (solo)

2020-4

• Sailing Blowin’ in the Wind, YouTube Channel

2017

• Together With, The Bubbler, Madison, WI

• Together With, Steele Gallery, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, Denver, CO

2016

• Renaissances, Harrison Gallery, Indianapolis, IN (solo), 2016

• Weave Wars, Indianapolis Art Center, Indianapolis, IN

2015

• gradations, 3Mass Gallery, Indianapolis, IN (solo)

• Black Tie, Harrison Gallery, Indianapolis, IN

• Small Abstract Works, Hank and Dolly Gallery, Indianapolis, IN

2014

• References, Tambaran Gallery (with InSitu Works), New York, NY

• Party Lines, New York Studio Gallery, New York, NY

• Framed, Holland Tunnel Gallery (Stairmasters Annex), Brooklyn, NY

• Sideshow Nation II: At the Alamo, Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

• Regarding the Just, Trap Door Theatre (Gallery Space), Chicago, IL

• The Ocean Is What I Meant By, MFA Thesis Exhibition, Levitt Gallery, Iowa City, IA (solo)

• Exuberant Politics, Public Space One, Iowa City, and CSPS, Cedar Rapids, IA

2013

• Summer, Eve Drewlowe Gallery, Iowa City, IA (solo)

• From Here to There, Art Gallery West, Iowa City, IA

• X109, Eve Drewlowe Gallery, Iowa City, IA

• Show Peanuts Snow, Eve Drewlowe Gallery, Iowa City, IA

2012

• Deliberate, Anheuser Busch Law School, Washington University, St. Louis, MO

• Works in Progress, Public Space One, Iowa City, IA

• Drawing Offline, Art Gallery West, Iowa City, IA

• After Julian, Art Gallery West, Iowa City, IA (solo)

• I Like Abstract Painting, Byron Burford Gallery, Iowa City, IA (solo)

2011

• Reclamation, Keokuk and Keokuk, Iowa City, IA

PUBLICATIONS AS AUTHOR

Essays (including essays published under the pen name, “Tom Break”)

• Break, Tom. “Art and Value”: a four-part essay for Genealogies of Modernity.

  • “Art and the Restoration of Value.” Genealogies of Modernity, January 13, 2022.

  • “Art and the Work of Holding onto Hope.” Genealogies of Modernity, February 15, 2022.

  • “The Value in a Foreign Song.” Genealogies of Modernity, February 22, 2022.

  • “Waiting on Value.” Genealogies of Modernity, March 8, 2022.

• “A Vision of the End: The Contemplation of St. Lawrence.” Dappled Things 16, no. 1 (Easter 2021).

• Break, Tom. “Modern Art and Truth”: a three-part essay for Genealogies of Modernity.

  • “The Possibility of True Art” Genealogies of Modernity, August 4, 2020.

  • “Seeing in the Spirit.” Genealogies of Modernity, September 1, 2020.

  • “What Truth Can Be Found There?” Genealogies of Modernity, September 14, 2020.

• “A Fast that is Pleasing to the Eyes.” Dappled Things 15, no. 2 (Pentecost 2020). *Winner of the Jacques Maritain Prize for Art Criticism.

• “Maybe to Perfect a Thing Is to Destroy It.” Dappled Things 15, no. 1 (Candlemas 2020), 8-19.

• “Micah Bloom’s Books.” Codex. A project by Micah Bloom. Grand Forks, North Dakota: The Digital Press at the University of North Dakota, 2017.

• “Glenn Ligon // Blue Black at Pulitzer Arts.” The Seen. September 12, 2017, 30-34.

• “Thinking Outside the Academy.” The Miami Rail (Winter 2014).

• “From Appropriation to Reclamation.” Published in conjunction with the exhibition Reclamation at Keokuk and Keokuk, Iowa City, IA, 2011.

Artist Books / Writing Projects

• LEAP! Review. An Indianapolis Art Review, recipient of Efroymson Family Foundation grant.

• The Floating Bear. Artist book project, 2014. (No. 1) (No. 2)

• The Ocean Is What I Meant By / Theory for Art. MFA Thesis, 2014. 194-page manuscript (75 figures). Online location: http://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/4726/. The thesis has been downloaded more than 250 times in over 40 countries.

• Housing Project. Published 2013. 86-page booklet with color dust jacket.

Reviews / Short Essays

2018-Present

• Break, Tom. “What does that Still Small Voice Sound like?” Close Reading [Slant Books Blog]. January 5, 2023.

• Break, Tom. “Divine Providence.” Lydwine XI. November 1, 2022.

• Break, Tom. “Love and Reason.” Close Reading [Slant Books Blog]. August 11, 2022.

• Break, Tom. “Poetry as Finding Through a Falling Away.” Genealogies of Modernity, March 17, 2022.

• Break, Tom. “Susan Rothenberg’s Search for the Real.” The New Criterion [Dispatch], June 1, 2020.

• Break, Tom. "Notes on the Vocation of Being a Teacher." The Circe Institute, September 1, 2020.

2015-2017

• “Shimon Attie // St. Louis Art Museum.” The Seen. June 19, 2017.

• “Looking for the really real in Titian’s Ecce Homo.” Dapple Things [blog].

• “Sarah Hobbs // Psychological Traces.” The Seen. March 14, 2017.

• “Complicated Beauty // Contemporary Cuban Art.” The Seen. January 30, 2017.

• “Mohau Modisakeng // Laumeier Sculpture Park.” The Seen. January 2, 2017.

• “Raumlaborberlin // Pulitzer Arts Foundation.” The Seen. November 1, 2016.

• “Dara Birnbaum // St. Louis Art Museum.” The Seen. November 1, 2016.

• “Instagram: Is it Art?” LEAP!, no. 2 (October 2015): 1-8.

• “I Don’t Know Much About Art” and reviews of “Dream Cars,” Bobby Gilbreath, Tyler Mueninck and The Droops, LEAP!, no. 1 (September 2015): 1-8.

2014

• “Yann Gerstberger - SURFBOARD.” The Miami Rail (Fall 2014): 55-56.

• “Art City: ‘Art and Life in Africa’ brings new depth to the UIMA’s permanent collection.” Little Village 16, no. 153 (April 16-May 6, 2014): 24.

• “In the Iowa City art market, local galleries get creative,” Little Village 15, no. 150 (March 5 - 18, 2014): 20-21.

• With Amelia Salisbury. “Connective Tensions.” Little Village 15, no. 146 (January 8 - 21, 2014): 20-21.

2013

• “We Live In a World That Is Not Our Own.” Iowa City Arts Review 2, no. 2 (Fall 2013): 17-20.

• “Mary Laube at the Times Club at Prairie Lights.” Iowa City Arts Review 2, no. 2 (Fall 2013): 11-12.

• “Apartment buildings set to replace Hawkeye Court and Hawkeye Drive will have nearly double the rent.” Little Village 15, no. 144 (November 20 - December 3, 2013): 20-22.

• “Artists Sarah Kanouse, John Engelbrecht and Josh MacPhee discuss their collaboration, Exuberant Politics.” Little Village 15, no. 142 (October 18 - November 15, 2013): 22-24.

• “Steven Vail Fine Arts joins the local gallery scene.” Little Village 14, no. 139 (September 4 - 17, 2013): 23, 26-27.

• “Art City: A look at Micah Bloom’s Codex.” Little Village 14, no. 137 (July 31 - August 20, 2013): 28-29.

• “Art City: Untitled Bombsite Project reflects on time and space.” Little Village 14, no. 136 (July 3 - 30, 2013): 36-37.

• “Blind Spot." Little Village 14, no. 134 (June 5 - 19, 2013): 20-22.

• “Janis Finkleman” and “Christina Muzzio.” Iowa City Arts Review 2, no. 1 (Spring 2013): 11-14.

• “Highlights from this year’s batch of UI MFA shows.” Little Village 12, no. 132 (May 1 - 15, 2013): 22.

• “Art City: Exploring place at the Art Faculty Biennial.” Little Village 12, no. 130 (April 3 - 17, 2013): 20.

• “ARTicle: Interview with Public Space One Director John Engelbrecht.” Little Village 12, no. 128 (March 6 - 20, 2013): 23-25.

• “ARTicle: A take on Jeff Robinson and Michael Rutherford’s Water and Stone.” Little Village 12, no. 126 (February 6 – 20): 2013, 24.

• “Revolt Against the City.” Iowa City Arts Review 1, no. 7, (January 31, 2013): 2.

2012

• “Arts Review: To Lead One Beyond All Paintings.” Little Village 12, no. 123 (December 2012): 34-35.

• “Arts Review: Gaia Nardie-Warner’s “Limelight”.” Little Village 12, no. 121 (November 7 - 21, 2012): 24-35.

• “Drawn into Painting,” Iowa City Arts Review 1, no. 2 (November 7, 2012): 2.

• “If an Artist Can’t Be Wrong, What Can He Be?” Iowa City Arts Review 1, no. 1 (October 31, 2012): 2-4.

• “Arts Review: A Set of Lies Agreed Upon.” Little Village 12, no. 119 (October 3 - 17, 2012): 24-25.

• “Arts Review: Following the “Water” – on Josh Hoeks installation at UI Studio Arts.” Little Village 12, no. 117 (September 5-19, 2012): 24-25, 30.

BIBLIOGRAPHY (PRESS)

• Carl, Katy. “In Praise of Transcendent Language.” Evangelization & Culture 9 (Autumn 2021), 70-75.

• Justine Neron and Antoine Willm, Un bateau pour chaque rêve, (Positive Dreams, 2022), 58-65.

• Aparicio García, Bernardo. “Winners of the Jacques Maritain Prize for Nonfiction.” Dappled Things, March 22, 2021.

• "An Interview with Sailing Blowin' in the Wind," Volkscruiser, May 17, 2021.

• Olivier Tourchon, "La vie en famille à 6 toute l'année sur un voilier de 8,50 m, comment s'organiser?" Bateaux, March 3, 2021.

• “Something to Think About: Who is this Jesus of Nazareth?” Ignation Spirituality, April 9, 2017.

• Grossman, Dan. “Review: Weave Wars at the Indianapolis Art Center.” Nuvo, September 27, 2016.

• Mothes, Kate. “Brian Prugh.” Young Space (blog). September 29, 2016.

• Stotzfus, Brie. "Brian Prugh's Renaissances." Harrison Center for the Arts Blog, June 30, 2016.

• Kindred, Thomas. “UI Housing Concerns are About More than Rent.” The Gazette, December 23, 2015.

• Freiman, Lisa D. “MFA Annual Juror’s Comments.” New American Paintings, no. 111 (April-May 2014): 16-17, images 112-115.

• Steinkraus, Emma. "Symbols Near Collapse: Text and Meaning in Brian Prugh's Recent Work." In The Ocean Is What I Meant By. Iowa City, IA, 2014. Published in conjunction with the exhibition of the same name, shown at the Levitt Gallery, Iowa City, IA.

• Pitchford, Geoff. “Brian Prugh.” An Artist A Day (blog), May 1, 2014.

• Rutherford, Michael. “Brian Prugh.” Painter’s Bread (blog). July 21, 2013.

LECTURES & PRESENTATIONS

• "Contemporary Art in Kansas," Sterling College, Sterling, KS, 2023.

• “Art / Music Online Teaching Panel,” Barney Charter School Initiative, Zoom Panel, April 22, 2020.

• “Don’t Just Do Something, Sit There.” Taylor University, Upland, IN, April 24, 2017.

• “The Ocean Is What I Meant By.” Tambaran Gallery, New York, NY, October 2, 2014.

• “The Floating Bear.” Knox College, Galesburg, IL, May 1, 2014.

• “What Makes a Work of Art Catholic?” Newman Center, Iowa City, IA, February 9, 2014.

• 2013 “Painting’s Claim to Truth,” St. Theodore Guerin Catholic High School, Noblesville, IN, October 18, 2013.

• “What I Meant By,” Hawkeye Community College, Waterloo, IA, October 9, 2013.

• “Carravaggio’s Reserve: The Self-Portrait as Witness to Sacred History,” James F. Jakobsen Conference, Iowa City, IA, April 6, 2013. (Third Prize, Humanities Division.)

SCHOLARSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS, RESIDENCIES, GRANTS AND AWARDS

• 2021-2 Writing Residency, Genealogies of Modernity

• 2020 Jacques Maritain Prize for Criticism, Dappled Things

• 2016 Grant from Efroymson Family Foundation, LEAP! Review

• 2014 Nominated for Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, The University of Iowa

• 2013-4 Mildred Pelzer Lynch Fellowship Award, The University of Iowa

• 2013 Nominated for Daedalus Foundation MFA Fellowship, The University of Iowa

• 2013 Third Prize, Humanities Division, James F. Jakobsen Conference, The University of Iowa

• 2011 Graduate College Strategic Initiative Funding Scholarship, The University of Iowa

• 2001-4 Jacob K. Javits Fellowship

• 2001 Ida M. Tarbell Memorial Prize for Investigative Reporting, Knox College

• 1999 Ford Foundation Fellowship, Knox College

• 1997-01 Lincoln Scholarship, Knox College2014 MFA with Commendation, Painting (secondary concentration: Art History), The University of Iowa

TEACHING & EDITING EXPERIENCE

Dappled Things | Associate Editor | 2023 - present

Convivium | Contributing Editor | 2023 - present

Sterling College (Sterling, KS) | Assistant Professor of Art and Design | 2022 - 2023

• AR 105 – Art Appreciation

• AR 110 – Drawing I: Basic Drawing

• AR 135 – Design I: 2D Design and Color Theory

• AR 210 – Drawing II

• AR 310 – Drawing III: Figure Drawing

• AR 320 – Painting II

• AR 349 – Contemporary Art History

• AR 425 – Advanced Studio

• AR 490 – Senior Exhibition

Treasure Coast Classical Academy (Stuart, FL) | Lower and Upper School Teacher | 2019 - 2021

• Lower / Upper School Art (grades K-7)

Ivy Tech Community College (Kokomo, IN) | Adjunct Professor | 2016

• PHIL 101 – Introduction to Philosophy (Online course)

• PHIL 102 – Introduction to Ethics

• ARTH 110 – Art Appreciation

Herron High School (Indianapolis, IN) | Teacher | 2016

• Art History / Dual-Credit with Ivy Tech Community College

• AP Art History

• Critical Inquiry (Course development for a critical thinking / introduction to philosophy class)

The University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA) | Instructor of Record (TA) | 2011 – 2014

• ARTS 003 – Basic Drawing (Introductory drawing class for art majors)

• ARTS 001 – Elements of Art (Drawing-based art class for non-art majors)

The University of Chicago (Chicago, IL) | Teaching Assistant | 2002

• PHIL 30000 – Elementary Logic

• Attended Writing Center Training

Knox College (Galesburg, IL) | 1998 - 2000

• PREC 100 – First-Year Preceptorial: Exploring Human Identity | Teaching Assistant

• Attended Preceptor Writing Training

• MATH 216 – Foundations of Geometry | Learning Center Tutor

• MATH 210 – Linear Algebra | Grader

• MATH 121-152 – Help Session Leader