TESSA BLOSSOM HOLMES

Tessa Holmes is a multidisciplinary artist who works primarily with oil paint, photography and food. Inspired most by the seasons and plants of Vermont she often employs bold color and thick textures in a post-impressionistic manner to create an exaggerated view of the natural world around her.

Being a professional photographer, and always with her camera, she finds the world a constant source of glorious ready made compositions to capture. Sometimes the photographs are beautiful enough on their own, but usually she prefers cutting up her prints to create new dreamscape collages or painting directly from the photographs using heavily applied paint to the canvas with only a pallet knife. She likes rich vibrant color and quick gratification. Details hold little appeal unless they are found by accident. Joy, beauty and nourishment are the goals.

Tessa is also a chef who owns and runs her own catering company, often offering cooking classes and retreats. She cooks the same way she makes art - with lots of love, little patience and the knowledge that one eats with their eyes first.
She has been cooking and making art professionally for over 28 years. What began as a hobby and love for creating happily developed into a professional career and business.

 Tessa is a seventh-generation Vermonter who has been taking pictures, painting and producing art for the past thirty-five years.She lives in Hinesburg on Lake Iroquois. Her catering business is Blossom Whole Food Kitchen

Fellowships and Residencies

2024 Culinary Artist, Craigardan, Elizabethtown, NY

2024 Artist Residency, Cycladic Arts, Paros, Greece

2023 Culinary Artist, Marble House Project, Dorset, VT

2023 and 2024 Artist in Residence, Bread and Butter Farm, Shelburne, VT

2002 Vermont Week, Studio Center, Johnson, VT

Art Exhibitions

2024 Vermont Open Studio Weekend, Bread and Butter Farm, Shelburne, VT

2023 Trees, Sparrow Art Gallery, Middlebury, VT

2023 Art in the Barn, Bread and Butter Farm, Shelburne, VT

2020 Solo Show, Healthy Living Cafe, South Burlington, VT

2016 Solo Show, Village Wine and Coffee, Shelburne, VT

2011 South End Art Hop, Burlington, VT

2011 Hall Art, Community College of Vermont, Winooski, VT

2007 South End Art Hop, Burlington, VT

2003 South End Art Hop, Burlington, VT

2001 Solo Show, Daily Bread, Richmond, VT

2000 South End Art Hop, Burlington, VT

1999 Store Front Gallery, Arcada, CA

2015 Hall Art, Innovation Center, Burlington, VT

2015 Solo Show, Starry Night Cafe, Ferrisburg, VT

2014 Solo Show, Healthy Living Cafe, South Burlington, VT

2011 Solo Show, Merchants Bank, Hinesburg, VT

2011 Solo Show, Muddy Waters, Burlington, VT

2010 Arts Alive Festival of Fine Art, Burlington, VT

2010 Solo Show, Blue Cat, Burlington, VT

2010 Solo Show, Mirabelles Cafe, Burlington, VT

2009 South End Art Hop, Burlington, VT

2000 Solo Show, Four Corners Deli, Burlington, VT

1999 Heartwood Institute, Garberville, CA

1996 Seattle Central Group Show, Seattle, WA

1996 Solo Show, Sano’s Coffee, Seattle, WA