"Early on, I drew my own pictures using a stick in the white sand of our front yard. Art became my own special way to tell a story."
Tom Gilleon, celebrated for his mesmerizing and luminescent portrayals of Northern Plains tribes and the American West, stands as a leading figure in the Contemporary Western art movement. Known for his sophisticated use of color—described as “magical elegance” by Patrick Hemingway—Gilleon has captivated art critics, with comparisons to masters like Edgar Degas and Mark Rothko. Beyond painting, he has shaped modern art through PIXoils™, a digital art platform he co-created with designer Marshall Monroe.
A former Disney Imagineer with 30 years at Walt Disney Imagineering, Gilleon contributed foundational designs for EPCOT and several international Disney parks, working with legendary Disney artist Herb Ryman. His influence extends into the cinematic world, with work on projects like Dick Tracy as a storyboard artist and matte painter.
In January 2024, The Scottsdale Museum of the West honored his legacy with The Tom Gilleon Retrospective, a 70-piece exhibit spanning his 50-year career. The collection includes oil paintings, digital works, and NFTs, showcasing his journey from Disney studios to his ranch in Montana.
Gilleon’s art is part of prestigious collections, including the Whitney Western Art Museum, C.M. Russell Museum, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Scottsdale Museum of the West, and Booth Museum of Western Art.
Dedicated to philanthropy, Gilleon also supports the Red Feather American Indian Sustainable Housing Initiative, with proceeds from special prints benefiting Native communities. He was honored as a founding member of the C.M. Russell Museum Skull Society of Artists in 2015, and a PBS documentary, The Art of Tom Gilleon, will broadcast nationally in 2025.
With a profound respect for simplicity and storytelling, Gilleon’s art invites viewers to experience the emotive power of the American West, illuminated through his unique and timeless vision.