Athens State is pleased to host Light on the Land, featuring the artwork of Athens State student Trevor J. Thomas. Thomas is currently studying at the Alabama Center for the Arts to earn his Master of Fine Arts in Painting. The exhibition will be on display from January 20 to February 27 at the Nazaretian Alumni Welcome Center on the campus of Athens State University. A Closing Reception will be held on Tuesday, February 24 from 4:30 – 6:30 pm.
“I’m honored to share my solo exhibition, Light on the Land, at Athens State University’s new Alumni Welcome Center,” said Thomas. “This collection explores the captivating beauty of the rural south, with an emphasis on the ever-changing effects of light and color.”
Trevor Thomas was born in Blount County, Alabama, where his passion for art was supported by a family that helped him find workshops and private instruction despite limited opportunities to find lessons that met his level and took art making seriously. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in painting from Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi, studying under several influential artists and faculty who helped him refine his skills through coursework and additional training. After graduating, Trevor returned to Alabama and is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Painting at Athens State University, expected to be completed in summer 2026, where he has expanded his artistic vision through teaching assistant experience, mentorship, and participation in major exhibitions, including the Alabama State Biennial Exhibition, where he won the award for Student Artists. Looking ahead, Trevor hopes to teach in higher education, aiming to make quality education more accessible for dedicated students who share the same passion. He also strives to provide the same level of encouragement and mentorship that shaped his own development as an artist.
Thomas wants to create paintings that showcase the beauty of rural areas in the United States. “Even though I am a southern artist, and my work highlights the South, I believe there is beauty in rural areas across the country,” he said. Most of his work consists of oil paintings on panel, canvas, or, more recently, handmade paper, and explore rural landscapes, overgrown structures, still life, and figurative subjects. The main purpose and theme of his work is to reveal the beauty in the mundane, the overlooked, or the everyday.
During normal hours, Nazaretian Alumni Welcome Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. For questions, please contact Museum Curator, Lisa Hoffman, at 256-233-8184.
