The Food I Eat, 1998; Acrylic on ceramic and wood; 15 x 19 x 12 1⁄2 in. Collection of the artist
(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- The Montclair Art Museum presents Tom Nussbaum: But Wait, There's More!, the first full-career retrospective of American artist Tom Nussbaum (b. 1953), from September 13, 2025 to January 4, 2026. Featuring more than 80 works spanning six decades, the exhibition showcases Nussbaum's distinctive use of vibrant color, richly varied forms, and his fluid movement between figuration and abstraction. Across sculpture, drawing, and design, his inventive body of work invites curiosity, interpretation, and personal connection. As he has observed, "Much of my work is open to interpretation, and as such it welcomes viewers to find their own stories in it."
At the heart of Nussbaum’s work is a deeply humanistic, psychological focus. His art explores relationships between family members and friends, the individual and society, and between the conscious and subconscious. These themes resonate throughout his distinct visual language, which expresses the emotional landscape of life’s journeys. His juxtapositions of animal and human forms reveal the connections between humanity and nature. Naturally antagonistic pairings allude to the dual nature of humanity. Expressing a deep appreciation of nature, these artworks also reflect an inner journey of self-discovery, evoking a wide range of feelings and emotions.
“My work is the result of a process of self-discovery, a mining of images that have personal and psychological meaning. These images usually first appear in drawings and then develop intuitively as I work, using a wide range of materials. My sculptural vocabulary is informed by the formal concerns of both sculpture and painting, and my lifelong interest in the continuum of hand-made objects from around the world, which I admire for their purity of form and ingenuity of construction,” said Tom Nussbaum.
Blue Moon, 1988, acrylic on steel and wood, 9 x 7 x 10 in. Collection of the artist
Though his materials vary—wood, steel, paper, paint, clay, resin, found objects—Nussbaum approaches each one with the same hands-on, improvisational spirit: “I’m a person who builds out my ideas through the process of working with my hands, using all kinds of materials,” he explains. His process is grounded in exploration, learning by doing, and discovering ideas through the act of making. “You have to be comfortable with the material… and through that you begin to find your own voice. But you have to be persistent.” He has also created many large-scale public art commissions (represented by models in the exhibition), as well as design objects and a children’s activity book that will also be on view.
Among New Jersey’s most highly regarded artists, Nussbaum has a long and meaningful history with the Montclair Art Museum. He moved to Montclair in 1993 in part because of the Museum’s presence and the vibrant local community it served. His work first appeared at MAM in the 1997 exhibition The Montclair Art Colony: Past and Present, and he had his first solo museum show at MAM in 2003, Home Sweet Home and Twenty Sculptures. His relationship with the Museum has grown since—through thematic group shows, the prominence of his sculpture Listen (2008) on MAM’s grounds since 2009, and as a friend of the institution.
Organized by Chief Curator Gail Stavitsky, Tom Nussbaum: But Wait, There’s More! offers an unprecedented view of Nussbaum’s career, from the handmade toy Ice Racers (ca. 1963) of his childhood to recent works, including the relief sculpture Jalopy (2025), made expressly for this show. Selected from more than 1,000 artworks, including many never publicly exhibited, the exhibition reveals surprising connections across decades of experimentation. “Gathering all of this work together in one place makes it possible to see the common themes that I’ve expressed in so many different ways over a lifetime of making art.”
Jalopy, 2025; Acrylic on steel and paper; 188 x 80 x 4 in.; Collection of the artist
The accompanying catalog—the first comprehensive publication on Nussbaum’s work—features original research by Stavitsky and offers deeper insight into his themes, process, and evolution. She observed that “although I have known Tom for many years and have selected his work for shows since 1997, I was astonished to realize that he, although recognized as a state and local treasure, has never received the full attention that he deserves. It’s a story that’s never been told in full—until now.” The catalogue also includes an essay by the artist, as well as another by Jennifer McGregor on Nussbaum’s public artworks.
Nussbaum was raised in Minneapolis, where he studied at the University of Minnesota. In 1980, he moved to New York City, where he worked as a studio assistant to the artists Mimi Gross, Red Grooms, and Suzan Pitt. In 1982, Tom started making art full-time. The show features works from Tom’s early life in Minneapolis (1953–1980), his residence in NYC (1980–1993), and concludes with his Montclair and East Orange years (1993–2025). This exhibition takes its name from one of Nussbaum’s recent sculptures, But Wait, There’s More! (2024), which incorporates the artist himself driving a circus-like contraption, filled, in his words, with “art, life, and our fears and hopes for the future.”
Tom Nussbaum: But Wait, There’s More! opens September 13, 2025, at the Montclair Art Museum in the Rand Gallery, Elevator Lobby, and Weston Gallery. Come for the color, the wit, and the joy of discovery—and maybe find a bit of yourself along the way.
Chopper, 1988; Painted steel; 19 x 17 x 12 in.; Collection of the artist
The Montclair Art Museum (MAM) champions American and Native American art—past and present. Through bold exhibitions, hands-on programs, and deep community ties, MAM sparks creativity, connection, and conversation. Guided by its core values of respect, collaboration, education, and inclusion, the Museum is a vibrant hub where art meets ideas, and everyone is invited.
