Tomlin, Bradley Walker (1899-1953), was an American Abstract Expressionist painter. His best-known works contain strong lines arranged in a rhythmical order that suggest hieroglyphics. They maintain a balance between carefully structured, overlapping forms and such random elements as curving symbols, letters, and numerals. Tomlin’s sense of order and his preference for harmonious colors set him slightly apart from most other Abstract Expressionists. His works are more lyrical and restrained than those of other artists in the movement.
Tomlin was born on Aug. 19, 1899, in Syracuse, New York. In 1921, he moved to New York City where he earned a living for a time designing magazine covers. From 1925 to the late 1930’s, he painted in a moderate realistic style. From 1939 to about 1944, he concentrated on Cubistic blends of still-life elements and abstract forms. This style led to the simplification and abstraction of Tomlin’s later works. He died on May 11, 1953. In 1957, the Whitney Museum of American Art presented a definitive exhibition of his works.
