Minimalist Nittany Lion Mascot Penn State

As an artist, Tom Mosser, is always looking around for ideas whether it be at a home depot, at a Pep Boys, at sporting good store, or in the alleyway dumpster near his studio.

Says Tom, “The Andy Warhol Museum is a 4-mile straight shot from my studio on RT. 28 here in Pittsburgh. I go there several times a year. I’ve watched a PBS documentary about him over 50 times. The little Andy on my shoulder is always asking me ‘How can I create art in a way that hasn’t been done before? How about painting with balls, tires and sneakers. These items all leave unique imprints and are perfect for creating logo treatments especially.”

Tom feels that virtually everything that people do is inspired by an idea, whether it’s what to eat for breakfast, a shot selection in tennis or, in his case, how to create art. Says Tom,”Take sports. Every shot and strategy in a tennis match are based on micro ideas. Basketball moves and strategy are all micro ideas. Golf strategy is immersed in creative thought. The very core of all sports and strategy is based on creativity. Ideas and acting on those ideas are the foundation.”

He continues, “Andy said ‘Art is are all around us.’ and that’s true. But more importantly so are great ideas. The idea of looking around ourselves and finding something completely fresh and new. If you do that, if you say, paint with a Penn State football, stuff happens. Something completely fresh and creative, happens. Shooting for for those elusive original or semi-original thoughts should always be a goal.”

Arena art galleries.

Tom has worked with Sports & the Arts (www.sportart.net) since 2007. SATA is the nation’s premiere arena curating company. Through SATA Tom has created work for arenas such as Amway Center (Orlando), Prudential Center Arena (Newark), Lambeau Field (Green Bay), Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara), US Bank Stadium (Minneapolis), Fiserv Forum (Milwaukee) and most recently at the Golden Warriors’ new Chase Center Arena in San Francisco. Work created with his theme of painting with sports balls are now display at 6 arenas including an 18’ x 11′ painting at the Milwaukee Buck’s Fiserv Forum that was created with one Spalding basketball.

Working with SATA again,Tom and his team, created the largest interior mural in the world at Prudential Center in 2007. (30ft x 200ft) Says Tom, “Suite hallways at these big arenas and stadiums have tons of wall space just begging for art. I created a pretty eclectic array of work through SATA for the stadiums like landscape oriented work, sports action art as well as local history themed art. I also create a lot of logo themed work in various themes for these projects. What better way to create a Minnesota Vikings logo painting than with an actual Vikings football?”

A Painting of a Golden Retriever goes viral and changes an artist’s life.

In addition to his sports murals, some of his most successful commissions include his “Museum Series” that was kicked off in 2013 by the creation of his viral “A Golden Retriever at the Museum” painting. (Facebook page: (1) Tom Mosser’s “A Golden Retriever at the Museum” Series | Facebook) The painting and the series that it inspired literally changed his life and inspired 10 follow-up pieces and limited edition prints. Prints sales through Almart Fine Art Publishing (www.popandfineart.com) of the series have raised nearly $50,000 for a variety of rescue groups around the world. The series is ongoing and Tom does take commissions from dog loving clients to depict their pooches in the iconic pose.

Tom gives new meaning to face time.

Inspired by the scale of the work of artist Chuck Close, the technique of Jackson Pollock the color palette of Andy Warhol and the drawing style of Bernie Fuchs, Tom has developed his iconic portrait theme he appropriately calls: “Really Big Faces”. Using his signature “Flow” and “Loop” techniques, the portraits measure 58” x 68”. Tom has been creating works for his fall 2021 show for over a year now. He hopes to create over 60 portraits for the event.

The subjects initially included an eclectic array of Pittsburghers including friends and some local celebrities. But the tone took on a different look when the pandemic struck and forced the postponement of his March show 2020. Says Tom, “Since then I’ve been reaching out to subjects who were effected by Covid in whatever form. I’m especially focused on front-line subjects that include a postal worker, a grocery store worker, health care workers, small business owners, teachers and of course those in the arts while emphasizing diversity.”

Tom concludes, “I want the show to be a celebration of Pittsburgh and our bold rise out of this dark shadow.” (The show’s venue TBA)

Tom does accept commissions for the theme. The commission fee is $6000. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for completion. A 50% up-front fee is requested with the final 50% due following the client’s approval. The client will be updated frequently with progress photos.

Tom’s art goes “Public”

Mosser has also left his mark in Pittsburgh, where he moved after graduating from Penn State University and growing up in Huntingdon Pa. The mural “The Two Andys,” created in 2005 with Sarah Zeffiro has become an iconic image of the city. It is located on the side of a downtown building on Strawberry Way in Pittsburgh. It is a playful reimagining of city icons Andy Warhol and Andrew Carnegie sitting side-by-side in a beauty salon under hair dryers while getting makeovers.

An artist. And a mascot.

Mosser is no stranger to engaging audiences for the sports world. From 1989-1996 he was the Pittsburgh Pirates’ mascot, the Pirate Parrot. He had a studio in the south side of the city during that time before becoming a full-time artist in ’96.

-Tom graduated with BFA in Fine Art from Penn State.

-He was a cheerleader his senior year.

-Tom was a member at Phi Kappa Theta fraternity.

Bio courtesy of Artist Tom Mosser