Faces and Places
What does it mean to remember something you never actually saw? For artist Tom Gonzales, it begins in the periphery—the fleeting images, thoughts, and observations that exist just beyond our immediate focus.
The Madison Artists Guild & Gallery presents Faces and Places, a special exhibition by Gonzales, October 9 through November 7, 2026. The exhibition opens with a public reception on Friday, October 9, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. at the Madison Artists Guild & Gallery. Sponsored by Mark and Jean Nelson. Music by MaCayla Hodges. Catered by Taco on Main.
Working in oils, acrylics, watercolors, and sometimes mixed media, Gonzales transforms fleeting impressions into tangible images. His work moves between realism and more expressive interpretations, allowing each medium to shape the way an idea comes to life.
“I find it surprising how the work is nothing like I thought it would turn out, and that is the best part of creation,” Gonzales says. “It tells me it had a life of its own to begin with.”
Faces and Places offers viewers a glimpse into that creative process—where observation, memory, and imagination meet, and where the unexpected can become the most meaningful part of the work.