Pocket Utopia proudly announces the unveiling of a solo exhibition curated by Shayan Nazarian featuring unique vintage photographs by Kay Thomas, capturing the essence of the Automat circa 1957-58. In dialogue with these works is a recent still-life painting by Kay Thomas of flowers as if pulled off the table of the Automat and presented in technicolor.
Kay Thomas, with her keen and enduring eye, is the 91-year-old mother of Pocket Utopia's owner, Austin Thomas. This presentation is Kay Thomas's second exhibition with Pocket Utopia, her last one in 2009, and marks Pocket Utopia's inaugural one at 39 w. 32nd Street, N.Y.C./Koreatown, with views of the Empire State Building.
Quietly made, these remarkable photographs draw with light and narrative and document New York City's gone but beloved Automat, where the simple fare was sold from coin-operated vending machines, and diners sat at communal tables. Through her vintage black-and-white gelatin silver prints, Thomas immortalizes the spirit of this iconic institution, evoking nostalgia and a sense of timeless charm. The Automat served as a cultural hub for New Yorkers from 1902 to 1991.
Born in 1932 in Pittsburgh, Kay Thomas earned her B.A. from Duquesne University. Her passion for Asian arts catalyzed her travels in Japan, China, and Taiwan. After living in New York, Kay brought her creative inquiries to Chicago. Her expertise in Japanese painting enriched the Chicago area, where she had an extensive teaching career. In recognition of her contributions, Kay was honored at the Sumi-e Society of America's 60th Anniversary in Washington, D.C., in 2023.
