Step inside ABSTRACT in Westwood, and you will quickly realize this is not your typical gallery. It is alive with movement, color, conversation and curiosity. At the center of it all is Kim Schmitt Thomas, a lifelong artist whose work feels as much like a dialogue as it does a visual experience.
We sat down with Thomas to talk about her journey, her process and the inspiration behind her vibrant new creative space.
Q: Can you introduce yourself to our readers and share a bit about your work as an artist?
A: I’ve worked as an artist for the past 30 years, primarily as a large-scale abstract painter. I’ve been represented by multiple galleries and for the past five years I’ve had a studio at a unique store called hOMe in Hawthorne. I either sell my work “off the wall” or I create custom pieces that work with my client’s space. This experience is what I’m now bringing to Westwood with my own gallery/studio called ABSTRACT. In addition, I’m combining an old pottery business I once had with my art. ABSTRACT will always be a work in progress where guests will discover something new with each visit.
Q: Where did your story begin, both personally and creatively?
A: I was born in 1970 in Hell’s Kitchen but raised in River Edge. My parents were young actors so my early childhood was often spent quietly drawing in theatre wings and dressing rooms. When I was about 3, my mom (Lee Meredith) played the sketch nurse in the Broadway production of Neil Simon’s, The Sunshine Boys. We often ate at Sardi’s after the show where I was fascinated with the walls covered in caricature drawings by Al Hirschfeld, who later drew the poster for the film version of The Sunshine Boys, which included a caricature of my mom. I used to repeatedly trace and copy the drawing, fascinated by its expression and precise line work, which has stayed with me throughout the years.
Q: Was there a defining moment when you realized art would become your career, not just a passion?
A: No, it was just something I always knew since I was three years old. It wasn’t something I chose to do, it was always something I naturally did.
Q: How would you describe your process?
A: Every painting I create is a different conversation I have with the canvas. I never paint what I see in front of me because I find it limiting. I’m more drawn to painting energy and expression with just hints of imagery.
Q: Your pieces often feel energetic and layered - what inspires that movement and use of color?
A: Dance and music, mostly. I trained as a dancer for 20 years and that movement will always be built into my core. Also, the flat old-school cartoons and comics that race with action lines have been a big influence since I was a kid.
Q: What continues to excite you about creating after so many years in the field?
A: The constant evolution. No two paintings are the same, and I love collaborating with clients on commissions. People often bring their own ideas into the process. Every piece becomes personal for them and for me.
Q: Looking back, what are some of your proudest accomplishments as an artist?
A: Having my work featured on the Showtime series City on a Hill was a big moment, along with being published in The New York Times, twice. The first gallery to approach me for representation was also a big breakthrough, but opening ABSTRACT, my own gallery, is the most meaningful milestone.
Q: What inspired this new chapter in Westwood?
A: It was a gut feeling I could not ignore. Years ago, I had a pottery business and I always wanted to bring that back alongside my painting. Now I have a space where both can exist together.
Q: What do you love most about being part of the Westwood community?
A: The energy, the people and the conversations. Someone might walk in to look at art, but we often connect on something completely unrelated. Everyone has been very welcoming and excited by my work and the uniqueness of ABSTRACT.
Q: What advice would you give aspiring artists?
A: Build relationships, be seen, and do not fear failure. Make mistakes and see where they lead you.
Inside the Studio:
ABSTRACT- Kim Schmitt Thomas Art
Location: 326 Kinderkamack Road, Westwood, NJ 07675 (Five Corners)
Website: kimschmittthomas.com
Email: kimschmitt@me.com
Phone: (201)822-9226
Instagram: @kimschmittthomasart | @abstractkimart
Facebook: @kimschmittthomasart