ABOUT
Hi, I’m Tom Neill, a California-based artist, graphic designer, and creative director working across art, design, branding, apparel, exhibitions, and community-based projects.
I thrive on bringing ideas into visual form, whether through images, spaces, brand systems, public-facing creative work, or collaborative programs. Moving between disciplines has shaped the way I think: conceptually, adaptively, and with a clear visual point of view.
Across my craft, I’m drawn to storytelling through visual communication, experimentation, collaboration, and making work that is distinctive and reflective of the audience it is designed for.
EXHIBITIONS
● Dear Iran Group: Organized by Refuge Records, with Shepard Fairey, Fame Yard and Gallery, Los Angeles, CA • 2026
● Digital Disruption, The Synthetic Self: Group exhibition, Pence Gallery, Davis, CA • 2024
● GALEX56 National Juried Exhibition: “Environment,” Galesburg, IL • 2023
● In the Abstract: Online juried exhibition, San Fernando Arts and Culture Center, “Can’t” • 2023
● Childish Dream: UC Davis Basement Gallery, Davis, CA, “Can’t” • 2023
PUBLIC ART & INSTALLATIONS
● PLAYGROUND: Los Angeles, CA • Founder • 2024–Present • Public art project building interactive installations and community murals at festivals — including Shabang (10,000+attendees) • in partnership with Liquitex
● Sitar Arts Center Mural Arts Program: Community mural with a team of artists from across the city • Washington, DC • 2019
CURATORIAL & ARTIST RELATIONS
● Indivisible Arts: Hermosa Beach, CA • Design and Artist Relations • Aug 2025–2026 • Co-directed the South Bay Artists Collective, a network of 200+ artists • organizing 10+ exhibitions, open calls, and public programming throughout Los Angeles • Helped develop the Cause Collection, an art fundraising platform supporting youth mental health programming — recruited,managed, and installed work from 35+ local, national, and international artists, helping generate $40K+ in art sales in one night
● Open Walls Art Collective: Davis, CA • Co-Founder • 2023–2025 • Co-founded artist collective representing 30+ emerging artists — organized 10+ gallery exhibitions, murals, and public installations
● DRC. Creatives: Davis, CA • Director of Art and Design • 2023–2025 • Directed art and creative vision for an agency spanning event production, artist representation, and live music — produced 20+ events and gallery shows (largest drawing 600+ attendees), 5+ interactive installations, and 4 apparel drops
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
● MOT Creative Studio: Independent Designer & Artist • Los Angeles, CA • 2024–Present
● Delusional Ambition Clothing: Co-Founder and Lead Designer • Davis, CA • 2024
● Amplifire Strategies: Creative Intern • animation for national media campaigns • Washington, DC • Summer 2024
EDUCATION
● University of California: Davis ca • B.A.• Double Major: Design & Art Studio (painting and drawing)• June 2025
● School of Motion: After Effects Kickstart • design and animation training 2024
● UC Santa Cruz Global Learning Program: Art & Globalization • immersive studio program • Czech Republic/Germany • 2023
● Maryland Institute College of Art: Summer figure drawing program • Baltimore, MD • 2020
RESIDENCIES
● Art Mill: Artist Residency • Horažďovice, Czech Republic • 2023
AWARDS & PRESS
● Crocker Art Museum: Friedman Art Award winner • Sacramento, CA • 2022
● Sitar Arts Center: Art competition winner • Washington, DC • 2019
● The Davis Dirt: “Meet the Artist: Tom Neill: Exaggerating the World” • 2024
● Matchbox Magazine: Issue 18, “Dome Rave” and “Burnt” • 2024
● Spectrum: UC Santa Barbara literary journal, Volume 66 • 2023