Education:
2009 BA in Studio Art, Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Selected Exhibitions:
2025
Petrykivka Garden and Cities of the War, in conjunction with Leonard Pearlstein Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Art Fair 14C, Jersey City, NJ
2024
82nd Annual Juried Exhibition, Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA
HEAT WAVE, Atelier Fine Art Space, Philadelphia, PA
Cabinet Of: Vox's $99 Exhibition, Vox Populi, Philadelphia, PA
2023
81st Juried Exhibition, Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA
Little Windows, Vox Populi, Philadelphia, PA
Art Fair 14C, Jersey City, NJ
(Solo), American Grammar, Philadelphia, PA
2022
99 Dollar Exhibition, Vox Populi, Philadelphia, PA
2020
In A Perfect World: Optimism In An Age Of Anxiety, Ringel Gallery at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
2019
NOW, Solo Show, Thomas Hunter Projects, New York, NY
Wynorrific Times: Roberto Lugo and Mat Tomezsko, Wexler Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Second Nature: The Poetics of Re-presentation, Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA
2018
CORE: Mat Tomezsko, Gregory Coates, Leora Brecher, NoBA Artspace, Bala Cynwyd, PA
Into The Light, Arts + Crafts Holdings, Philadelphia, PA
Art in the Open: Selections from 2010-2018, Invitational, presented by CFEVA, Art in City Hall, Philadelphia, PA
A Winter Juried Collection, 3rd Street Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Painted Bride Art Center, Philadelphia, PA
2017
Jarring, Delaware Contemporary, Wilmington, DE
The Woodmere Annual: 76th Juried Exhibition, Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA
Emerging Artists: Young Philadelphia Artists, Invitational, The Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA
#45: Artists React to the New Political Landscape, Iona College, New Rochelle, NY
Welcome True and Untrue, Gallery 5, Emmanuel College, Boston, MA
2016
Government Cheese, Lillstreet Arts Center, Chicago, IL
Wild Mouth, Project Space at Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
Art in the Open, CFEVA, Philadelphia, PA
The Life and Times of Roberto Lugo, Wexler Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
From the Wheel To the Wall, Garcia Squared Contemporary, Kansas City, MO
2015
The City Real & Imagined, Painted Bride Art Center, Philadelphia, PA
Body Mass, New Boone Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2014
Navigation Puzzle: 2014 Members’ Juried Exhibition, Delaware Contemporary, Wilmington, DE
`Murica: A Patriotic Art Show, PhilaMOCA, Philadelphia, PA
Art in the Open, University City Arts League, Philadelphia, PA
On The Edge: Looking With New Eyes, The Artists’ House Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2013
Juvenile In Justice, Crane Arts, Philadelphia, PA
#Hashtag, InAsMuch Gallery, Oklahoma City, OK
2012
Art in the Open, Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia, PA
Happier and Happier, Archive Space at Crane Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2011
Danger Danger Danger Danger, The Danger!Danger! Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2010
Your Swimming Brain, Fleisher Ollman, Philadelphia, PA
Summer in the City, Projects Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2009
Guilty Pleasures, Projects Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Public and Community Art Projects:
2025
Petrykivka Garden and Cities of the War
Two collaborative compositions made with artists from Ukraine. Combining the Garden Wall series with traditional Ukrainian painting style. Mural Arts Philadelphia.
Garden Wall: Tessera (2024)
Collaborative mural painted and designed with Mother of Mercy House and participants of the Mural Arts' Color Me Back: Same Day Work and Pay Program. Mural Arts. Located at F and Allegheny in Kensington, Philadelphia, PA
Garden Gate
Printed mural for a municipal fence - using repeating and reversible panels designed from collaborative artwork from the Color Me Back program. Located at Kensington Wellness Support Center on Lehigh Ave, 5th St, and Gurney St
FREE PAINT: Temple University
10’ x 10’ Collaborative mural made with students and faculty of Temple University.
2024
Still Life - Storydale Avenue
11 Still Life paintings on the street and inside businesses along Torresdale Avenue in Tacony, Philadelphia. The imagery was derived from community responses and created during multiple free art events. Supported by the Tacony CDC, Philadelphia Activities Fund, and Feet First Philly.
Garden Wall: Tessera (2024)
Collaborative mural painted and designed with Mother of Mercy House and participants of the Mural Arts' Color Me Back: Same Day Work and Pay Program. Mural Arts. Located at F and Allegheny in Kensington, Philadelphia, PA
2023
Garden Wall: Flowering Dogwood / Rose
Collaborative mural painted and designed with participants of the Mural Arts' Color Me Back: Same Day Work and Pay Program. Mural Arts. Located in Frankford, Philadelphia, PA
Still Life with w/ Family Photos, Fruit, Flowers, Pastelillos, Sancocho, Sketchbooks, Games, and Other Objects from CAP Students
Collaborative public art project designed with students at Community Academy of Philadelphia.
Revolutionary Philadelphia, 2023
Series of collaborative artworks produced through guided research and discussion of figures who have made revolutionary contributions to the areas of civil rights, LGBTQ+ activism, arts and culture, and more. Classes taught through University Community Collaborative program, a paid opportunity for High School students in Philadelphia. Supported by the Velocity Fund and Urban Creators. Located at Urban Creators Life Do Grow Farm.
Garden Wall
Collaborative mural painted and designed with participants of the Mural Arts' Color Me Back: Same Day Work and Pay Program. Located in Kensington, Philadelphia, PA. Mural Arts Philadelphia, Stop The Risk, the Medicine Shoppe, and the Scattergood Foundation
2022
Community Garden
Collaborative mural painted with participants of the Mural Arts' Color Me Back: Same Day Work and Pay Program and members of the Tacony community who participated in a community paint event at the TaconyLAB. Located in Tacony, Philadelphia, PA.
Mural Arts Philadelphia, Tacony Community Development Corp, and Burg Properties, LLC.
Garden Painting
Collaborative mural painted with members of the Chester community on site at the Ruth Bennett Community Farm in Chester, PA
Supported by The TD Charitable Foundation, Widener University, and Chester Housing Authority.
Garden of Rare and Resilient Plants
Two murals in the Emerald Street Underpass at Emerald St and Lehigh Ave in Kensington, Philadelphia, PA.
A project through the Mural Arts’ Color Me Back: Same Day Work and Pay Program, an initiative that combines participatory art-making and access to social services in a unique model offering individuals who are experiencing economic
insecurity an opportunity to earn wages. Took place on site over 10 months in the Fall of 2021 through the Summer of 2022. Mural Arts Philadephia
FREE PAINT
Commission for free public collaborative painting event resulting in composition for the collection of Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
Revolutionary Philadelphia, 2022
Ongoing series of collaborative artworks produced through guided research and discussion of figures who have made revolutionary contributions to the areas of civil rights, LGBTQ+ activism, arts and culture, and more. Classes taught through University Community Collaborative program, a paid opportunity for High School students in Philadelphia.
2021
Revolutionary Philadelphia
Collaborative mural produced through a guided class researching figures who have made revolutionary contributions to the areas of Civil Rights, LGBTQ+ activism, Labor movement, Arts and Culture, and more. Class through University Community Collaborative with support from the Stockton Rush Bartol Foundation. Mural supported by Global Philadelphia and Temple University.
NOW
An exhibition of eleven paintings temporarily installed in the public garden space of the Tacony branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia. On view for 3 months. Supported by Tacony CDC.
Look Long and Look Good
Repairing, repainting and re-installing 30 public paintings originally created in 2011. Manayunk Development Corporation
2020
FREE PAINT - Murals
Community painting event with Manayunk Development Corp, culminating in 10 murals installed by Pretzel Park in Manayunk.
2019
Revolutionary Philadelphia
Design Finalist for Septa Art In Transit - Independence Hall Station
FREE PAINT
Community painting events at Spruce Street Harbor Park (DRWC) and the Oval+ (Phila Parks)
Community partners include the Barnes Foundation, Blick Art Materials, Golden Seconds Program, and more.
2018
Flowering Axes
5th Street Vehicular Tunnel Mural, Delaware River Port Authority and Mural Arts
New Market West
Mission First Housing Group, Percent For Art Program - Design Finalist
City Reach Church Mural
Tacony, Mural Arts - Design Finalist
2017
Symbols and Sources
Series of 45 street banners along Torresdale Avenue in Tacony in Northeast Philadelphia. Developed from paintings created during artist residency at the Tacony Library and Arts Building (LAB) through Mural Arts
2016
14 Movements: A Symphony in Color and Words
A mile-long temporary painting installation in center city Philadelphia during 2016 Democratic National Convention. Located on Broad Street median spanning 14 blocks south of City Hall. Supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, DNC Host Committee, and Mural Arts
2014 T
he Near Future
Temporary painting installation at the Spruce Street Harbor Park, Philadelphia, PA Collaboration with Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, Art in the Open, and InLiquid
2012
Here Is Your Mirror
Temporary public painting installation at “pop-up garden” near Rittenhouse Square. Collaboration with Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and Mural Arts. Located at 19th and Walnut
2011
Look Long and Look Good
Installation of 30 public paintings located on Main Street in Manayunk. Collaboration with Mural Arts, Manayunk Development Corporation
Guest Speaker / Residencies:
2025 Guest Speaker - Bridging The Gaps, University of Pennsylvania
2024 Guest Speaker - University of Pennsylvania
Guest Lecturer and Artist for visiting cohort from Ukraine - Mural Arts Institute
2023 Created Together - Mural Arts Institute
Studio Visit - Mural Arts Institute
2022 Digital Studio Visit - Mural Arts Institute
2020 Guest Speaker / MFA Studio Visits at Purdue University
2018 Guest Artist for studio visits with undergraduates at Tyler School of Art
2017 Guest Speaker at Teacher Institute at the Barnes Foundation
Artist Talk and Workshop demonstrating approach to community art and public art practice at
the Teacher Institute at the Barnes Foundation, a professional development program for teachers
Tacony LAB Artist Residency
A civic improvement-focused residency, housed in a storefront library on the Torresdale Avenue Commercial Corridor in Northeast Philadelphia. Mural Arts
2013 There Is No
Series of over 100 paintings, programming, and exhibitions through InLiquid
Developed through a teaching residency addressing urban violence at the Covenant House in Kensington through the Mural Arts
2012 Arts & Artists Outdoors
Resident artist leads after school program for ages 10-14 in creating artwork inspired by outdoor spaces and nature.
City of Philadelphia Depts of Parks and Recreation, Mural Arts
Piccoli Rec Center, Juniata, Philadelphia, PA
2011 Arts & Artists Outdoors
Resident artist at after school program for ages 10-14, creating artwork inspired by outdoor spaces and nature.
City of Philadelphia Depts of Parks and Recreation, Mural Arts
Feltonville Rec, Feltonville, Philadelphia, PA
Awards and Recognition:
2022 Velocity Fund Award
TD Charitable Foundation Grant
Art Is PHL (Round 1) - A Project of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority’s Fund for Art and Civic Engagement
with support from the Knight Foundation
2021 Teaching Artist Grant - Stockton Rush Bartol Foundation
Art Is Essential Grant - A Project of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority’s Fund for Art and Civic Engagement
with support from the Knight Foundation
2020 Nominated for United States Artist Fellowship
2017 Public Art Network Year in Review - Americans for the Arts
14 Movements: A Symphony In Color And Words was selected as outstanding public art
2009 Art and Art Education Achievement Award In Painting (Tyler School of Art)
2009 Faculty Award In Art/Art Education for Strong Studio Work (Tyler School of Art)
Selected Curatorial Projects:
2021 Studio K.O.S.: The Continuing Legacy of Tim Rollins and Kids of Survival
(Selected works from 1987 - 2020) at Wexler Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2020 Once Home, InLiquid Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2019 Material Message, Thomas Hunter Projects, New York, NY
2018 Let’s Connect - Guest Curator, The Barnes Foundation & Mural Arts
Entrances and Exits, The InLiquid Gallery
Winged Woman: The Art of Arlene Love and Contemporary Parallels, The Painted Bride
2017 Configuration: Nicholas Kripal, Park Towne Place North Tower Gallery
Vibrant Affects, Thomas Jefferson Hospital Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, presented by Revolvd
2016 Breaking Forward, Lacey & Phillips Gallery
Output Art, CRUXspace Gallery
2015 The City Real & Imagined, The Painted Bride
Simulate/Permeate, Rowan University Gallery
2014 Noise, The Philadelphia Art Alliance
Collections:
Avira Schuylkill Yards, Philadelphia, PA
Capital One, Wilmington Delaware
Deloitte, Philadelphia
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Temple University - Fox School of Business - Alter Hall
The University of Pennsylvania - Wharton School - Colonial Penn Building
The Free Library of Philadelphia
Private collections in Philadelphia and the surrounding area; New York, NY; Baltimore, MD; Portland, ME; and beyond.
Selected Bibliography:
"Mural Arts unveils two paintings created by artists from Philadelphia and Ukraine", Josh Sanders, CBS News, 2025
"Ukrainian artists come to Philly to collaborate on trauma-informed public art", Peter Crimins, WHYY, 2025
“Temple Takes on UN Art Challenge, Forges Path Toward Equality”, Rayna Lewis, Temple New, 2021
“Street Cred, in Paint and Ceramics”, Edith Newhall, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 2019
"The Terrible and the Beautiful, Lugo and Tomezsko’s ‘Wynorrific Times’ at Wexler Gallery" Natalie Sandstrom, Artblog, 2019
“Banner Day in Tacony”, William Kenny, Northeast Times, 2017.
“The Story Behind the Broad Street Center Lane Mural for the DNC”, Jenna Eason, Billy Penn, 2016.
“Six Artists Reimagine The City In New Exhibit”, Aubrey Nagle, Philly Voice, 2015.
“Wine, Cheese, and Lawyers To Help You Clean Up Your Wrap Sheet”, Michael Mechanic, Mother Jones, 2013.
“A Sugar Coated Reality,” Monica Yant Kinney, Philadelphia, Inquirer, 2012.
“Illustrating Manayunk One Person At A Time”, Chip Schwartz, Knight Foundation, 2011.
Professional Experience:
July 2023 - Present
Program Manager and Resident Artist
Color Me Back Program
Porch Light Program
Mural Arts Philadelphia
July 2022 - July 2023
Kensington Studio Manager and Lead Artist
Color Me Back Program
Porch Light Program
Mural Arts Philadelphia
August 2020 - 2023
Adjunct Instructor
Visual and Performing Arts
Widener University
December 2019 - December 2021
Associate Director of Wexler Gallery
201 N 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
July 2018 - August 2020
Contributing Writer at PaintGuide Magazine
May 2018 - December 2019
Gallery Registrar at Wexler Gallery
201 N. 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
March 2014 - May 2018
Curator, Exhibition Manager, and Preparator at InLiquid Art+Design
1400 N. American St. #314 Philadelphia, PA 19122
Freelance Art Installation
2015 - 2019
October 2011 - March 2014
Programs and Events Coordinator, Philadelphia Art Alliance
251 S. 18th Street. Philadelphia, PA