Biography

Los Angeles-based Tom Pergola continues today what Andy Warhol and Claes Oldenberg started in the 60’s – the immortalization of the common and familiar of our everyday existence. Emerging with a fresh new look on life today, the introduction of Pergola’s new Assemblage Plastique art form captures the imagination as it signals the emergence of a fresh new voice in the fine art community.

In 1978 Pergola joined the then small art publishing company, Martin Lawrence Limited Editions. Now a student of the fine art world, his knowledge grew, as the company became one of the largest fine art publishers and gallery chains in the country during his eight year stay. They’re now known as Martin Lawrence Galleries and are located in major cities across the U.S. and Hawaii. Later, Pergola went on to produce videos of many major artists for fine art publishers and galleries.

While managing a number of successful artists in 1994, Tom teamed up with fifteen year veteran Alan Fleishman to form DATZ ART!, a company dedicated to promoting his innovative art form. Their inaugural series of assemblage plastiques was entitled “Emotional Baggage”. These are original wall and table sculptures that serve as metaphors for who we are not only as individuals, but as a society.

The first dealer who was shown this exciting and bold new artistic concept immediately offered him a one-man show. Tom’s opening in 1995 at the Gallery Galgano in West Los Angeles benefited The West Los Angeles Homeless Organizations and was a huge success. His artwork has demonstrated the ability to attract a cross-section of collectors at all levels of the art market and has been seen in the most prestigious galleries in the U.S. including galleries on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas and many more. His work has also been widely accepted in Japan and Europe. Jay Leno, Donald Trump and Carol Burnett are among his celebrity collectors just to name a few. Tom has done major projects for such companies as Kellogg’s, Titleist, Corona Beer and others, and has had associations with The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Make A Wish Foundation and more.

Tom recently created an ongoing outdoor art festival, “The Tom Pergola Art Festival”, featuring painters, sculptors, assemblage artists and more. This unique concept allowed the viewer to watch each artist create their work. Adelphia Communications sponsored the events and ran hundreds of TV commercials on 33 major channels weeks before each show.

Tom has also developed a TV show based on celebrity artists. He has produced a pilot and is in the process of shopping it to the networks. His artwork has been featured as an exclusive episode on HGTV (Home and Garden Television) and has been seen on such shows as The Drew Carey Show, The Gilmore Girls, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Half & Half and more.

Tom's artist management company is now working with a select group of extremely talented artists. He provides guidance, direction and introduction to the fine art world for his “Platinum Artists”.