Thomas Webb is an multi-disciplinary artist, creative hacker and TEDx speaker that uses video game-like programs, real-time data, or algorithms to produce his artwork.. He is one of Saatchi & Saatchi's class of 2019 New Creators and is one of WIRED magazine's 2017 Next Generation speakers. He has collaborated with Valentino on multiple art installations in Tokyo, Milan and Dubai.
Early life
Webb grew up in Ashford, Kent, United Kingdom. As a child, he attended Friars School which later became Ashford School. He enjoyed playing video games and has said that he had an early interest in magic. At age 11, Webb started Karate at his local JKA dojo with two of his friends after being bullied whilst at school in Ashford. In December 2006 he passed his black belt grading in Walton on Thames aged 15. A few weeks later he was selected to represent his country in the JKAE Karate squad. He was selected to represent England in the French International Championships which took place early in December 2007 in Le Touquet in France. Tom received a gold medal in the U.18's kumite category. Webb also competed in Slovenia for the European karate championships where he placed in the final 5 earning him sponsorship from Adidas. He also attended St Edmund's School in Canterbury. Whilst there he accessed students' files and was awarded a bursary for revealing this issue and permission to use the school computers to build video games. He later attended Norton Knatchbull School in Ashford for his GCSEs before attending Highworth Grammar School 6th Form where he was House Captain.
At the age of 16 Webb became interested in close-up magic tricks and found a restaurant willing to let him perform. Etienne Pradier heard of his performances and invited him to learn advanced close up magic. He is the founder of the internet radio station filth.fm, which in 2011 was voted best radio station at the DMA's. At 18 Webb was billed as a warm up act alongside Hadouken!, Caspa and Chip and in 2010 he was the warm up act/DJ for Chase and Status. Webb's audition was broadcast in Episode 1204 under the stage name Tom London. His Judge Cuts performance was in Episode 1207. Webb's performance was not strong enough for the judges to send him to the Quarterfinals, eliminating him from the competition instead of Eric Jones. In an interview with Metro, he said that he had thought about doing Britain's Got Talent for a long time but decided to audition for America's Got Talent as he thought the show would help him more with his dream of performing in Las Vegas. He has also performed for Richard James.
WIRED Magazine and hacking
In 2017 Webb delivered a keynote for WIRED magazine on combining technology and magic as an art form to explain the possibilities of VR, drones and robotics. He was a part of WIRED UK's Next Generation of tech innovators in their January 2018 issue. In the May 2018 issue Webb was featured for creating magic using AI and drones. Using an Amazon Echo to read peoples minds and programming drones to perform the three card montecard trick. When asked about his inspirations for creating magic with technology Webb refers to Marco Tempest and French magician Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin. In 2018 London delivered a keynote for SAP, explaining the uses of blockchain and AI technology.
Keynote speaking
Webb has also delivered keynotes to various tech companies. Notably SAP SE, and at MathCon 2018. He has also worked with IBM, Microsoft and Samsung to design shows around their products. In 2018 Webb performed at the Chivas Venture with Will.i.am. He demonstrated a mind-reading AI called Emma. The AI uses a neural network to calculate statistically what people are most likely to think of when searching online. In 2018 he delivered a TEDxBerlin talk on creative hacking and a TEDxBucharest talk on hacking the internet to create real-time art.
Art Career
In July 2018 Webb held his debut art exhibition 'STRANGERS' at Woodbury House gallery in Soho. The exhibition was attended by Professor Green, Jamal Edwards and Reggie Yates. Webb's work focuses on using endlessly looping video game programs that use real-time data and algorithms to express his views. He pulls data from various internet sources such as social media and NASA's api's. To create his video-game like computer simulations, Webb said he created a new type of art medium, the digital infinity mirror. In 2019 Webb created an insallation for Valentino during Art Basel in Switzerland.Webb was awarded the new media prize at the 2019 Ashurst emerging artist of the year competition.
Directing Career
In March 2019 Webb wrote and directed a fashion film for Valentino & MyTheresa. The film was a part of a series of installations and artworks created for the collaboration. He was named as one of Saatchi & Saatchi's 2019 class of New Creators during a showcase at Cannes Lions festival for his short film "STRANGERS". The film features a real-time art piece typewriting tweets being written on Twitter about depression.
