Faust Gallery
Tomas Lasansky
American Artist · Master of Portraiture & Symbolic Narrative
Tomas Lasansky in his studio garden with a splatter painting of Willie Nelson
Tomas Lasansky is an acclaimed American artist known for his emotionally charged and meticulously rendered portraits of influential cultural and historical figures. Working primarily in mixed media, he combines drawing, painting, printmaking, and collage to create deeply expressive works that honor the spiritual and cultural essence of his subjects—art often described as a fusion of realism, symbolism, and contemporary storytelling.
Born into a legendary printmaking family, Tomas is the youngest of six children of Mauricio Lasansky, the pioneering modern printmaker whose influence shaped the American graphic arts movement of the twentieth century. Raised in Iowa City in a home and studio filled with art, philosophy, and experimentation, Tomas absorbed traditional and experimental techniques from an early age, eventually forging a distinctive visual language of his own. He went on to earn his BFA and MFA at the University of Iowa, where he later taught and exhibited.
Lasansky's work primarily explores the human face—not merely as likeness, but as a vessel for memory, struggle, and cultural identity. His portraits are layered, intricate, and emotionally potent. Using graphite, colored pencil, watercolor, and collage—often incorporating handmade paper and fragments of his own earlier prints and drawings—he renders iconic individuals such as Sitting Bull, Geronimo, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., John Lennon, Willie Nelson and many more. These figures are presented not simply as historical subjects but as spiritual archetypes—symbols of resistance, creativity, justice, and transformation.
Tomas Lasansky in studio
Among his most distinctive methods is his signature splatter technique. Rather than relying on the traditional brush, Lasansky builds his images by flicking, throwing, and splattering pigment onto the surface—frequently working the paint onto the linen with his fingers, layer upon layer. The approach lends his portraits a tactile, almost sculptural energy, and his newest paintings, sold simply as "splatter on linen," carry that immediacy in every mark.
Tomas Lasansky, splatter technique demonstration — splatter on linen
Printmaking runs in Lasansky's blood. He learned the centuries-old craft of intaglio at the side of his father, Mauricio Lasansky, and it remains central to his work to this day. In intaglio, an image is incised into a metal plate, inked, and pressed into damp paper under tremendous pressure—a demanding, exacting process that rewards patience and precision. Lasansky often layers these prints with drawing, painting, and collage, building his iconic portraits through many techniques at once and carrying forward one of the great traditions of American printmaking.
Intaglio print by Tomas Lasansky of Hopi Maiden
His portraits are frequently surrounded by symbolic imagery: eagles, buffalo, sacred geometry, butterflies, and feathers, each layered with cultural meaning and spiritual intent. For more than a decade his attention has turned increasingly to Native American subjects of the American Southwest, rendered life-size on large linen canvases. A nocturnal worker who devotes his nights to the canvas, Lasansky has earned wide recognition across a long exhibition career.
"Tomas' work is excellent. He has emerged as a severe force in Southwest art with the new paintings."
— William Faust, Faust Gallery
Michael Faust, William Faust II, Charlie Lasansky, Tomas Lasansky, and Tim Cook — Indian Market 2019, Faust Gallery Santa Fe
Selected Awards & Honors
From more than 100 competitive and juried exhibitions.
- 1998 3M Purchase Award: Native American Indian, "The Second Minnesota National Print Biennial," University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN · Judge's Choice Award: "Annual Phi Beta Kappa Six State Competitive," McCook, NE
- 1996 Second Place: "Clay, Fiber, Paper, Glass, Metal and Wood," Octagon Center for the Arts, Ames, IA
- 1991 The American Artist Award: "49th Annual Audubon Artist Exhibition," New York, NY · The PTK Purchase Award: "McCook Community College, Six State Competition," McCook, NE · Third Prize: "Galex 25th Annual Competitive Art Exhibition," Galesburg, IL
- 1990 The PTK Purchase Award: "McCook Community College, Six State Competition," McCook, NE
- 1989 The Museum Purchase Award: "Quad Cities Regional Art Show, Davenport Art Center," Davenport, IA · Purchase Award: "Anderson Winter Show," Anderson Fine Arts Center, Anderson, IN · First Place: "1989 Art Exhibition," Dubuque Museum of Art, Dubuque, IA · Honorable Mention: "Thirty-third National Print Exhibition," The Hunterdon Art Center, Clinton, NJ · Honorable Mention: "39th Spiva Annual Competitive," Spiva Art Center, Joplin, MO
- 1988 Best in Show: "Iowa Artist Competitive Exhibition," Metropolitan Galleries, Cedar Falls, IA · Best in Show, One Man Exhibition: "Quincy's 38th Tri-State Juried Art Show," Quincy, IL · Juror's Award: "1988 Pacific States National Biennial Print Exhibition," University of Hawaii, Hilo, HI
- 1987 Purchase Award: "North Shore Art League Midwest Print Show," Northwestern University, Evanston, IL · Purchase Award: "Kirkwood College Invitational Exhibition," Kirkwood College, Cedar Rapids, IA · The PTK Purchase Award: "McCook Community College, Six State Competition," McCook, NE · Award of Merit: "The Anderson Winter Show," Anderson Fine Arts Center, Anderson, IN
- 1986 Purchase Award: "North Shore Art League Midwest Print Show," Northwestern University, Evanston, IL · Third Prize for Drawing: "Tenth Annual Rock Island Fine Arts," Rock Island Art Guild, Rock Island, IL · Jurors' Commendation: "The Boston Printmakers' 38th National Exhibition," Emmanuel College, Boston, MA · Honorable Mention: "44th Annual Audubon Artists Exhibition," New York, NY
- 1985 Kershaw Purchase Award: "The 29th National Print Show," The Hunterdon Art Center, Clinton, NJ · Purchase Award: "The 35th Annual Tri-State Juried Art Show," Quincy Art Center, Quincy, IL · Honorable Mention in Prints: "3rd Annual Maine/Maritime Flatwork Exhibition on Paper," Presque Isle, ME
- 1984 Silver Medal: "Forty-Second Annual Audubon Artist Exhibition," New York, NY · Purchase Award and Juror's Merit Award: "The Anderson Winter Show," Anderson Arts Center, Anderson, IN · Frank Proctor Whiting Memorial Award for Graphics: "Annual Show," Cooperstown Art Association, Cooperstown, NY · Best in Printmaking Award: "Clay/Paper Show," the Octagon Center for the Arts, Ames, IA · Cash Award: "The Manhattan Kansas National Print Exhibition," Manhattan, KS · Third Prize for Painting: "8th Annual Rock Island Fine Arts Exhibition," Rock Island, IL
- 1983 Second Prize: "Winter Art/Manhattan – Strecker Gallery," Manhattan, KS
- 1982 Outstanding Print: "Galex 16th Annual Competitive Art Exhibition," Galesburg, IL
- 1981 Honorable Mention in Prints: "IV Bienal Americana de Artes Gráficas, Museo de Arte Moderno La Tertulia," Colombia, South America · Outstanding Print: "Galex 15th Annual Competitive Art Exhibition," Galesburg, IL
- 1979 Honorable Mention in Prints: "IV Bienal Americana de Artes Gráficas," Museo de Arte Moderno La Tertulia, Colombia, South America
Selected Exhibitions
Recent Exhibitions
- 2026 Zenor Law Firm, Des Moines, IA
- 2023 Faust Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
- 2022 Faust Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
- 2021 Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA
- 2019 Faust Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
- 2017–2020 Embassy of the United States, Beijing, China
- 2018 Faust Gallery, Santa Fe, NM · "Selections From the Mr. & Mrs. Harold E. Rayburn Collections," Muscatine Art Center, Muscatine, IA · Weinberger Gallery, Kansas City, MO
- 2017 Lasansky Gallery Spring Show, Iowa City, IA
- 2015 University of Notre Dame, Snite Museum of Art (one-man exhibition) · Rare Gallery, Jackson Hole, WY · Ann Korologos Gallery, Basalt, CO
- 2010 Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH · University of Richmond, Harnett Museum of Art (one-man exhibition, "Tomás Lasansky: Selected Works")
Selected One-Man Exhibitions
- 2023 Faust Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
- 2022 Faust Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
- 2021 Faust Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
- 2011 Larsen Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ · Korologos Gallery, Basalt, CO · Rare Gallery, Jackson Hole, WY
- 2010 The Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH · University of Richmond Museum, Richmond, VA · Rare Gallery, Jackson Hole, WY
- 2009 Larsen Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ · Rare Gallery, Jackson Hole, WY
- 2008 Magidson Gallery, Aspen, CO · Manitou Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
- 2007 "Reflections on Dignity," Faust Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ · "Icons and Muses," West Valley Art Museum, Surprise, AZ
- 2006 Faust Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
- 2005 Faust Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
- 2004 Thomas Moxley Gallery, Santa Fe, NM · Faust Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ · "Tomás Lasansky: Reflections: Pride and Dignity of the Native American," West Valley Art Museum, Surprise, AZ
- 2003 Faust Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
- 2002 Faust Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
- 2001 Faust Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
- 1998 "Tomás Lasansky," Percival Gallery, Des Moines, IA
- 1995 "Works on Paper," Percival Gallery, Des Moines, IA
- 1993 "Drawings – Collage – Prints," Percival Gallery, Des Moines, IA
- 1992 "Tomás Lasansky: Drawings, Paintings, Prints," Muscatine Art Center, Muscatine, IA
- 1991 "Drawings, Paintings, Prints," Percival Gallery, Des Moines, IA
- 1988 "Tomás Lasansky: Exhibit of Drawings and Prints," Quincy Art Center, Quincy, IL · "Works by Tomás Lasansky," Cornell College, Mount Vernon, IA
- 1987 "An Exhibit of 70 Works," Sioux City Art Museum, Sioux City, IA · "Tomás Lasansky: Drawings, Paintings, Prints," Cornell College, Mount Vernon, IA
- 1986 "Tomás Lasansky: Drawings, Paintings, Prints," Polk County Heritage Gallery, Des Moines, IA
- 1985 "Tomás Lasansky: Prints, Drawings, and Paintings," Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA · "Prints and Drawings," Hawkeye State Bank, Iowa City, IA
- 1983 "Recent Works," University Athletic Club, Iowa City, IA
Selected Group Exhibitions
- 2026 Zenor Law Firm, Des Moines, IA
- 2010 University of Richmond Museum, Richmond, VA · United States Embassy, Dublin, Ireland
- 2009 Korologos Gallery, Basalt, CO
- 2008 Rare Gallery, Jackson Hole, WY
- 2007 "Glen Town Center Showcase," Des Moines, IA · Rare Gallery, Jackson Hole, WY
- 2006 Manitou Galleries, Santa Fe, NM
- 2001 Faust Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ · Faust Gallery, Santa Fe, NM · Faust & King Galleries, New York, NY
- 2000 "Spaces/Faces," Percival Gallery, Des Moines, IA
- 1997 Heritage Gallery Invitational, Heritage Gallery, Des Moines, IA
- 1996 "American Watercolors and Drawings, 15 Artists," Jane Haslem Gallery, Washington, D.C.
- 1991 "12th Annual Paper in Particular," Columbia College, Columbia, MO
- 1989 "Spittin' Images – 20th Century Non-Traditional Portraiture," organized by Anderson Fine Arts Center, Anderson, IN
- 1988 "American Self Portraits Five-Year Traveling Exhibition," organized by Jane Haslem Gallery, Washington, D.C.
- 1987 "Contemporary American Graphics 1987–88 National Invitational Traveling Exhibition," Old Bergen Art Guild, Bayonne, NJ · "American Drawing: Realism/Idealism," organized for the Boca Museum by Jane Haslem Gallery, Washington, D.C.
- 1985 "Iowa Printmakers' Invitational Exhibition" (Traveling Exhibition), organized by The Iowa Arts Council, Des Moines, IA · "Contemporary American Graphics 1985–86 National Invitational Traveling Exhibition," Bayonne, NJ
- 1982 "Four Printmakers," organized by the Municipal Metropolitan Gallery, Cedar Falls, IA
- 1980 "West '80 / Art and the Law, Invitational," Minnesota Museum of Art, St. Paul, MN
Lasansky's work is held in numerous public and private collections across the United States—among them the New Mexico Museum of Art, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Toledo Museum of Art, the Figge Art Museum, and the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum—and has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including at the United States Embassy in Dublin.
Beyond his technical mastery, Lasansky's art is rooted in a deep moral and cultural consciousness. His portraits invite viewers to reflect on personal and collective histories, offering a visual space for contemplation, healing, and human connection. Faust Gallery is honored to present the work of Tomas Lasansky, whose portraits continue to elevate and humanize the stories of those who shaped—and continue to shape—our world.
Tomas Lasansky working on American Dignity painting
