Tomáš holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Sculpture/Dimensional Studies from Alfred University’s School of Art and Design in New York, USA and an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Arts from Crawford College of Art and Design in Cork, Ireland.
His achievements include nominations for the ISC Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award (2022, 2023), bursaries from the Arts Council of Ireland and Cork City Arts Office, public art commissions, and participation in national and international artist residencies and exhibitions. In 2021, Tomáš received the George Moore Scholars award from Ireland Funds America - widely regarded as Ireland’s most prestigious academic award after the Fulbright - to complete his MFA degree studies in the United States.
His studio research draws from existentialism, psychology and symbolism used in advertising, visual art, and popular culture. The approach to his work is open-ended and idea driven, the resulting artwork is usually project based and often site-specific. The long-term aim of his art is to include the audience in the so called “participation mystique”, integrating kinetic sculpture elements, sound and installation.
In 2024, Tomáš joined BACA as A-Level Fine Art Pathway Leader. His teaching philosophy mirrors the experimental, research-oriented approach central to his own art practice. He views education as an invitation to participate in a larger cultural dialogue, where experimentation, criticality, and craft shape the future of contemporary art. He believes students should engage in individual, original research from the outset, integrating material investigation with critical inquiry. He conducts studio teaching that promotes iterative making, material experimentation, conceptual development, and resilient studio habits with emphasis on process, exploration, and constructive failure as key components of growth. He guides students in developing personal investigations that combine intuitive practice with academic research and theory. His teaching also supports the development of professional skills such as critical thinking, project planning, exhibition production, collaboration, and public presentation.
Education
Master of Fine Arts degree in Sculpture
Country
Czechoslovakia
Baca Course
BACA A Level Fine Arts Course leader
About Tomas Penc
Born in former Czechoslovakia, Tomáš received his post-secondary school education in film and film history in Czech Republic and subsequently spent extensive period of time living, studying and working abroad in Ireland, United States and now in Beijing, China. These experiences allowed him to refine his skills, broaden his research, and cultivate an art practice that aims not only to produce meaningful work but also sustain respectful, international exchange in his teaching.