Thomas Erma

1939 Tartu, Estonia – 1964 Paris

Emigrated with his family in his early years to the United States. 1957 sojourn in Paris, where he read philosophy at the Sorbonne. 1958 studied painting at the Académie Julian. First solo exhibition at Galerie 93, Paris 1959. Participation in a group show at Galerie Karl Flinker, Paris 1960, “American Painting”, U.S.I.S. Art Gallery, London 1961, Tooth Gallery, London 1961, Galerie Marcelle Dupuis, Paris 1961, “Comparaisons”, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville, Paris 1962, Haus am Waldsee, Berlin 1962, “Recherches 62”, American Artists Center, Paris 1962, 3. Biennale de Paris, 1963. Personal exhibitions at Galerie Karl Flinker, Paris 1962 and after his death 1966, Tooth Gallery, London 1963. Erma’s short career was ended at the age of 25 from gunshot wounds. Represented in museums and public collections such as Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, Guggenheim Museum, New York.

Literature: Exhibition Catalogues Thomas Erma, Galerie Karl Flinker, Paris 1962 and 1966.