An Exhibition Tom Boland • Artist & Preservationist of Provincetown
Tom Boland moved to Provincetown in 1991, bringing with him a professional background in historic preservation. Before settling in this vibrant Cape Cod community, he studied preservation at Boston University and worked with the Boston Landmark Commission. Although largely self-taught as a fine artist, Boland did take lessons from recognized local artists, including Carol Whorf Wescott, Jim Peters, and Thomas A.D. Watson.
Artistic Style & Themes
Boland is best known for seascapes, frequently depicting boats, shorelines, and vistas of Provincetown Harbor and Long Point. He often layers in a sense of historical imagination, conjuring what the scene might have looked like a century (or more) ago. He often draws on old photographs, especially from the late 19th century, for inspiration, combining elements of the past with present sensibilities. His medium is normally oil on canvas, but he also works in painted furniture—bringing his eye for detail and preservation into applied art.
Preservation & Architecture
Boland’s early career and continuing interests are deeply tied to architectural heritage. Some of his preservation work includes consulting on the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House, the Schoolhouse Gallery, Whaler’s Wharf and various private residences in Provincetown. His preservation background is not simply technical, it shapes how he sees form, history, detail: railings, windows, building trim, etc. These sensibilities bleed into his art, giving his paintings a strong sense of place and time.
Other Roles & Recent Activities
Tom Boland is also well known (locally) as co-owner (with his husband Jim Farley) of Far Land Provisions, a year-round corner store in Provincetown which doubles in many ways as a community hub. For much of the past two decades, this business and other community commitments meant that Boland painted less frequently, and exhibiting less. But more recently, galleries—especially Berta Walker Gallery—have been reintroducing his work to the public through group exhibitions, showing his newer pieces and painted furniture.
