Tom Friedman’s Playful Art Ventures Take Center Stage in Seoul and New York

Tom Friedman has long been fascinated by the movements of flies and bees, repeatedly depicting them in his art. Their unpredictable flight patterns reflect his own diverse approach to exploring various projects, materials, and concepts.

Much like the seemingly random yet purposeful flight of insects responding to stimuli beyond easy comprehension, Friedman’s artistic path follows a deliberate, intricate logic that appears clear only to himself.

A longtime advocate of his work described Friedman as an artist deeply immersed in his own imaginative world.

During a visit to his multi-room studio—a converted former lawyer’s office in downtown Greenfield—Friedman frequently referenced the "circular logic" that captivates him, along with the idea of "cross-pollination" between different creative influences.

One of his signature themes involves looping, tangled lines reminiscent of a bee’s erratic flight. In one notable piece, he assembled such a design using glued strands of cooked spaghetti.

“A sense of wonder and curiosity has consistently underpinned my work,” Friedman, now 60, explained.

This spirit of inquiry will be on full display at the upcoming Frieze Seoul art fair, where Lehmann Maupin will present three of Friedman’s pieces. Concurrently, the gallery’s New York location will open a solo exhibition titled “Detritus” on September 4, coinciding with the fair’s start.