In 2013 Thomas (center) winning “best painting” and “best of show” awards for his work “The Conversion of Mary Magdalene” at the Black Creativity juried art exhibition held the Museum of Science and industry in Chicago.

BIO

The desire to create has consumed Raymond A. Thomas for as long as he can remember. Today, this St. Louis native has cultivated his passion into a vibrant multi-disciplinary artistic practice that continues to expand with purpose and daring.Thomas received a merit scholarship in 1984 to attend the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicagowhere he studied painting, filmmaking and graphic design. In 1988, soon after graduating and receiving his BFA in visual communications, Thomas was hired by Chicago-based Johnson Publishing Company Inc.where he served as art director and creative manager for over 23-years. He also continued his life-long missions of mentoring youth and creating art with showings of his studio works in Chicago and galleries nation-wide. In 2000, Thomas wrote, directed and produced his first film project 12 MINUTES. The 30-minute film short was an official selection to over 20 film festivals worldwide, winning numerous awards and honors. The film, which deals with the issues of mass incarceration and the death penalty, continues to be used in community arts engagement efforts with screenings in correctional facilities nationwide. Thomas has written over a half dozen feature screenplays several of which have been optioned by major motion picture studios. In 2013, Thomas won an EMMY for serving as an associate producer on the documentary COLORBLIND: Rethinking Race, which aired on television station WYCC in Chicago. Thomas has served as a board and committee member for many noted Chicago art institutions including: Little Black Pearl, Black Harvest Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival Black Perspectives Sidebar,Chicago Public Art GroupandSouth Side Community Art Center (SSCAC). Thomas also served as creative director and curator for SSCAC from 2012-2014 curating some of SSCAC most provocative and well-attended art exhibitions in its 75-year history. In 2013 his piece “The Conversion of Mary Magdalene” won “best painting” and “best of show” awards at the Black Creativity juried art exhibition held the Museum of Science and industry in Chicago. Thomas is a three-time recipient (2014, 2015, 2018) of the Individual Arts Program Creative Projects Grantfrom the City of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events Grants Department. In 2015 The Burnham Wildlife Corridor Curatorial Committee, Chicago Park District and The Field Museum funding for Sankofa for the Earthawarded Thomas, along with 2 other artists, a public art project to be installed on the Chicago lakefront in 2016. In 2017 Thomas was honored with the Margaret Burroughs Arts Advocacy Award from the South Side Community Art Center, Chicago IL. Thomas currently serves as creative director for the Jazz Institute of Chicago. He is also the curator of the WALGREENS EXPRESSIONS CHALLENGE, a traveling high school art competition in Chicago and St Louis. He is also a resident artist at the Bronzeville Artist Lofts in Chicago.