About
Mission
The Tomayko Foundation was started in 2015 to foster individual creativity through education and the arts.
Foundation History
The Tomayko Foundation fosters individual creativity through education and the arts. Started in 2015 by John (Jack) R. Tomayko, the Foundation has since made a significant impact in these fields throughout the Pittsburgh region by supporting individuals pursuing higher education in the fields of engineering and fine art, visual and performing arts, emerging artists, and organizations who support the work of living artists. Jack has been an art collector for over 30 years.
During that time Jack has been collecting the work of artist Frank Mason, making him one of the most prolific collectors of the artist’s work. In partnership with the artist’s estate, the Foundation has access to over 300 works of art spanning the entire career of Frank Mason. The artist passed away in 2009. As a custodian of Frank Mason’s work, The Foundation works to archive, exhibit, and promote awareness of the artist.
In 2022 The Foundation purchased its current building at 5173 Liberty Ave in Pittsburgh, PA. The Foundation holds public exhibitions, art events, and an annual art auction. The Foundation is open to the public weekly, and by appointment on weekends.
Staff
John R. Tomayko, PhD
President
John (Jack) R. Tomayko received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Villanova University and his Ph.D. in Health Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. Jack has been a CEO for over 35 years operating healthcare companies that received over 18 awards representing Fastest Growth, Best Places to Work and Healthiest Employer.
Jack was inspired by Frank Mason to become an art collector and has one of the most prolific collections of the artist’s work. He has been a supporter of the arts for many years and has organized over 40 art exhibitions at his private gallery and at Point Park University, where he is on the Board of Trustees. He also serves on the Boards for College of Fine Arts/Carnegie Mellon University, School of Education/University of Pittsburgh and the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council.
Nina Friedman
Director
Nina is an arts administrator with a passion for contemporary art. Originally from Boston, she moved to Pittsburgh after completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Art History from the University of Vermont. Since then, Nina has worked at a wide array of institutions such as the Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Museum of Art, and the Mattress Factory Museum of Contemporary Art. She was a board member at Bunker Projects from 2018 - 2023. She holds a Masters in Arts Administration & Policy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Contact Nina
Board
John R. Tomayko, PhD
Nina Friedman, MA
Tom Bakaitus, CPA, MST
Charlie White, MFA
Gabriela Tomayko, BIA
Exhibition Partners
The Tomayko Foundation is proud to partner with visual arts organizations throughout the Pittsburgh region and beyond. In partnership with selected groups, the Foundation will present two juried exhibitions each year. Tomayko Foundation provides five awards to participating artists for outstanding work. Exhibition partners include:
The Associated Artists of Pittsburgh: Associated Artists of Pittsburgh (AAP) exhibits, promotes, and supports the work of visual artists who call Pittsburgh and the surrounding region home. The AAP is the oldest, continuously-exhibiting, visual arts organization in the country. Founded in 1910, AAP has spent over 100 years as a driving force in Pittsburgh’s dynamic cultural life. Governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and managed by a staff of four, AAP serves over 600 members in Pittsburgh and the surrounding region. The highlight of AAP’s calendar is the Annual Exhibition. Held at visual arts institutions across the region, such as the Carnegie Museum of Art and The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, this exhibition is open to all. The only continuous annual juried show in the region, the AAP Annual has been host to many renowned artists including Mary Cassatt, Henry Osawa Tanner, Philip Pearlstein, Balcomb Green, Andy Warhol and Aaronel deRoy Gruber.
Learn More About AAP
The National Association of Women Artists: The Mission of the National Association of Women Artists, Inc. (NAWA) is to promote awareness of, and interest in, visual art created by women in the United States. The Association promotes culture and education in the visual arts, including exhibitions of its members’ works, educational programs, scholarships, awards, and its historical archive. While encouraging contemporary and emerging artists, the Association honors and continues the long and important contribution of women to the history of American culture and art. The National Association of Women Artists, the first women’s fine art organization in the country, is a vibrant community of professional women artists that strives to support its members and women artists at large through exhibitions, programs and education.
Learn More About NAWA
The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council: The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council (GPAC) is the region’s primary arts service organization. Founded in 2005 after the merger of ProArts and the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Alliance, GPAC is the Local Arts Agency serving Southwestern Pennsylvania, with a primary presence in Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh. To the benefit of the community, GPAC supports the time, talent, and work of artists, cultural beareres, art educators, art workers, and arts organizations--reinforcing an environment so that ambitions, imagination, innovation, and risk taking can thrive in the Greater Pittsburgh Region.