A native of Nebraska, poster artist Tom Rierden studied at UN-L, the Colorado Institute of Art, and the Art Institute of Seattle. Initially a designer working in stained glass, Rierden turned to painting while working as an asistant to William Cummings. Typically, his compositions show people engaged in activities, with their features obscured. His work can be described as bright, psychedelic, palette and traditional technique, in which layers of oil paint are interspersed.

Rierden, whose studio is on Orcas Island in Washington, also spends six months a year living in Thailand. Rierden has participated in numerous exhibitions; among the corporate collections in which his work is represented are McDonalds, Microsoft, and Duncan Aviation.

Tom Rierden is represented by Waterworks Gallery, Friday Harbor and Modern Art Midwest, Lincoln, Nebraska.