Tom Orr
Waterfall Etchings, 2008
Printed in warm gray and cool black on Somerset paper. Edition of 20. The images measure 31.5 x 23 inches on 37.5 x 29-inch sheets. Published by Manneken Press.
With hand-drawn lines layered over a field of narrow vertical stripes, Tom Orr’s Waterfall etchings evoke the shifting sense of movement and spatial depth found in a cascading flow. The interplay of the two linear systems creates shimmering moiré patterns and subtle tonal variations that heighten this dynamic visual effect. Orr has explored the theme of the waterfall in previous gallery installations and public sculpture commissions, and the Waterfall series marks his first published print editions.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Tom Orr is a Dallas-based artist whose work spans sculpture, installation, and works on paper, often exploring perception, spatial dynamics, and the interplay between structure and surface. Known for his precise yet visually kinetic approach, Orr frequently employs repeated lines, grids, and architectural forms to create optical phenomena that shift with the viewer’s movement. His practice is grounded in a deep engagement with materials and fabrication processes, resulting in works that merge engineering and intuition, clarity and illusion.
Orr has exhibited widely in galleries, museums, and public spaces, and his large-scale installations and sculptural commissions can be found throughout the United States and internationally. His work often transforms the environments it inhabits, using pattern, light, and spatial layering to heighten viewers’ awareness of their own perceptual experience. The Waterfall etchings published by Manneken Press mark his first editioned print project, extending his long-standing investigation of movement, linear structure, and visual vibration into the realm of intaglio.
Orr studied at the Philadelphia College of Art (now the University of the Arts) and has maintained an active studio practice for more than three decades. His work is represented in numerous public and private collections, and he frequently collaborates with architects, designers, and community organizations on site-responsive projects.
