NEW YORK, NY.- The Garment District Alliance unveiled the latest in its ongoing series of public art exhibits, showcasing colorful canvas drawings titled Separate Light, created by New York City-based artist Tom Koken.

Located inside the Kaufman Arcade building on 132 West 36th Street, the free exhibit is accessible to the public through January 6th. Separate Light is part of the Garment District Space for Public Art program, which showcases artists in unusual locations throughout the year, and has produced more than 175 installations, exhibits and performances.

“The Garment District is a hub for creativity, and Tom Koken’s inspiring artwork truly exemplifies the unique character of this neighborhood,” said Barbara A. Blair, president of the Garment District Alliance. “Tom is an incredibly talented artist, and we are delighted to showcase Separate Light through the Garment District Space for Public Art program.”

The 14 works from this series are inspired by Koken’s desire to depict light, with light as the subject. By creating a contrast through color and texture, his works produce a two-dimensional representation that establishes a sense of light.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Koken studied at Kansas City Art Institute and received a BFA with honors from School of Visual Arts in New York City. His work has been featured in several one-person shows and numerous group exhibitions, including: Obsolescence, Art House Production, Jersey City, NJ; A to B, MKG127, Toronto; Dividing Light, Measuring Darkness, Curious Matter, Jersey City, NJ; MKG/NYC, 57W57ARTS, NYC; Escapes, Art Latitude Gallery, NYC; Urban Forest Project, Times Square, NYC; Pattern Theory, MKG127, Toronto; 25th Anniversary Selections, Drawing Center, NYC; Future Perfect, Hallwalls, Buffalo, NY; Assumption, N.A.M.E. Gallery, Chicago, IL; and more.

Koken has received studio grants from the Clocktower, NYC and PS1 MoMA, NYC. His work is in the collection of Bank of Montreal, Prudential Life Insurance, as well as several private collections. He is represented by MKG127 in Toronto, and currently resides and works in New York City.