About Me

“For me, the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity.”
― Henri Cartier-Bresson

I’m Tomas Alvarez, a passionate photographer from St. Paul, Minnesota. My art serves as a retreat from the routine of daily life. The symphony of Lake Superior’s waves, the tranquil fall of leaves on an autumn trail, and the breathtaking sunrise of a new day are just a few of the precious moments I capture and share through my lens. Join me on this photographic journey to experience the beauty of nature through my perspective.

I also work on several side projects besides my own publications and artistic work. I greatly enjoy working on projects that create opportunities for other artists. Some of those projects are below:

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Exhibitions, Publications, and Awards

Resume

Artist Statement

I photograph because there aren’t words for what I see.

Solo Exhibitions

2023

  • Urban Rambles, Enlightened Citizens – Gallery St. Germain, Paramount Center for the Arts, St. Cloud, Minnesota (18 pieces)

2022

  • Urban Growler, St. Paul, Minnesota (12 pieces)
  • Brookview, Golden Valley, Minnesota (8 pieces)
  • Light Color, and Motion – Theater Gallery, Paramount Center for the Arts, St. Cloud, Minnesota (17 pieces)
  • Waseca Arts Center, Waseca, Minnesota (22 pieces)

2021

  • Wanderings – Main Gallery, Great River Arts, Little Falls, Minnesota (22 pieces)
  • Coffee Paw Cafe, Stillwater, Minnesota
  • Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community – Main Gallery, Wyoming, Minnesota (42 pieces)
  • Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community – The Underground Gallery, Wyoming, Minnesota (22 pieces)
  • Two Harbors Library, Two Harbors, Minnesota (6 pieces)

2020

  • Wanderings – Main Gallery, Great River Arts, Little Falls, Minnesota (22 pieces)
  • FiftyNorth Art Gallery, FiftyNorth, Northfield, Minnesota (20 pieces)
  • Carlander Family Gallery, Paradise Center for the Arts, Faribault, Minnesota (22 pieces)
  • Salon Ori, Salon Ori, Minnesota (12 pieces)

2019

  • Healing Arts Gallery, District One Hospital – Paradise Center for the Arts, Faribault, Minnesota (17 pieces)
  • Amherst J. Wilder Foundation, St. Pau, Minnesota (12 pieces)

2018

  • Sencha Tea House, Minneapolis, Minnesota (8 pieces)
  • Two Harbors Library, Two Harbors, Minnesota (6 pieces)

Group Exhibitions

2023

2022

  • Chroma 2022, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, MN (1 piece)
  • In. Art Show & Competition, Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community, Wyoming MN (1 pieces)
  • Impressions That Eye Saw, Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community, Wyoming MN (2 pieces)
  • Arts North International 27 (Juried), Hopkins Art Center, Hopkins, MN (1 pieces)

2021

  • Black and White, Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community, Wyoming MN (1 pieces)
  • Winter Wonderland, Paradise Center for the Arts, Faribault, Minnesota (1 pieces)
  • In. Art Show & Competition, Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community, Wyoming MN (1 pieces)
  • 2021 Juried Show, Great River Arts, Little Falls, MN (2 pieces)
  • Impressions That Eye Saw, Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community, Wyoming, MN (2 pieces)
  • Hindsight is Always 2020, Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community, Wyoming, MN (2 pieces)
  • Biennial of the Americas, Virtual Gallery (1 piece)

2020

  • In. Art Show & Competition, Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community, Wyoming MN (1 pieces)
  • Exhibizone – Summer 2020, Biafarin, Toronto Ontario, Canada (3 pieces)
  • Here, There & Elsewhere, Visionary Art Collective (3 pieces)
  • Bygones, Eagan Art House, Eagan, Minnesota (2 pieces)
  • Creation by Sound, Vine Arts Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota (2 pieces)
  • Ambient, ArtReach St. Croix, Stillwater, Minnesota (12 pieces)
  • This is Red Wing, Red Wing Arts, Red Wing, Minnesota (1 piece)
  • New Beginnings, The Show Gallery, Saint Paul, Minnesota (3 pieces)
  • Impressions in Nature’s Elements, Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community, Wyoming Minnesota (1 piece)
  • That’s What the Eye Saw – Extended, Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community, Wyoming Minnesota (2 pieces)
  • That’s What the Eye Saw, Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community, Wyoming MN (2 pieces)

2019

  • Rejected! Exhibition, Art at 367 Payne, St. Paul, MN
  • Blaine Arts Council 2019 Photography Show, Blaine, Minnesota

2018

  • Winter Gala, Dow Art Gallery, St. Paul, Minnesota
  • Rejected! Exhibition – Praxis Gallery, Minneapolis, Minnesota

2017

  • Rejected! Exhibition – MPLS Photo Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota

2015

  • St. Paul Art Crawl – Dow Art Gallery, St. Paul, Minnesota
  • Minnesota Exposure Founders Gallery – Oakdale Discovery Center, Oakdale, Minnesota

Publications

Publications that have used my images. See my personal publications.

Awards

  • Merit Award – 2023 Stockholm Art Fair
  • Award Of Excellence – 2023 Eagan Art Festival
  • Artistic Merit Award – 2023 In. Art Show & Competition, Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community
  • 1st Place | Northeast State Parks – Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota 2022 Photo Contest
  • 1st Place | Southeast State Parks – Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota 2022 Photo Contest
  • 3rd Place | Southwest State Parks – Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota 2022 Photo Contest
  • Artistic Excellence – 2022 In. Art Show & Competition, Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community
  • Fair Favorite | Photography – 2022 Stone Arch Bridge Art Festival
  • Spirited ShelBea Award – 2022 Arts North International 27, Hopkins Art Center
  • People’s Choice – 2022 Black & White, Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community
  • 2nd Place – 2021 Winter Wonderland, Paradise Center for the Arts
  • 1st Place – 2021 Starry Skies North IDA – Celebrate the Night Sky Photo Contest
  • Artistic Merit Award – 2021 In. Art Show & Competition, Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community
  • Honorable Mention – 2021 Juried Show, Great River Arts, Little Falls, Minnesota
  • Runner Up – 2021 Adorama #CreateNoMatterWhat Photography Competition (Long Exposure)
  • Director’s Choice – 2020 In. Art Show & Competition, Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community
  • 1st Place – 2020 Cove Point Lodge Frozen Photographer’s Photo Contest
  • 1st Place – People’s Choice – 2020 That’s What the Eye Saw, Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community
  • 1st Place – Blaine Arts Council 2019 Photography Show

Activities

  • Board of Directors – St. Paul Art Collective, St. Paul, Minnesota (2018 -> Current)
  • Group Administrator – Minnesota Photography Club – MN’s largest photography Facebook Group
  • Photography Judge – Washington County Fair, Lake Elmo, Minnesota (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022)
  • Photography Judge – Da Vinci Fest, Stillwater Senior High, Stillwater, Minnesota (2019)