Thomas B. Hess (1920, Rye, New York – July 13, 1978) was an American art editor and curator, perhaps best known for his over twenty years at the helm of ARTnews and his championing, mounting exhibitions of the works of, and writing on the artists Willem de Kooning and Barnett Newman.
Immediately following college, Hess worked at the Museum of Modern Art under Alfred Barr and Dorothy Miller.
Soon thereafter Hess enlisted in the United States Air Force during World War II and became a fighter pilot.
[2] in 1944 having returned from his war service Hess went to work at ARTnews under Alfred Frankfurter and in 1949 was named executive editor of the publication.
In 1979 Hess's friend the painter Joan Mitchell created a large scale quadtych Salut Tom to mark his passing.