The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art (STMA), one of just a handful of single-artist museums in the country, has been selected to host “Reimagine: Contemporary Georgia Artists,” Georgia’s traveling State Art Collection.
The six-week exhibition will feature 20 works from the State Art Collection alongside works by local and regional artists.
STMA, near Madison, will host the exhibition from April 20 through May 29.
Presented by the Georgia Council for the Arts, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, “Reimagine” held its first of 10 stops statewide in February 2025 and will conclude this July in Dawsonville.
Media represented in the collection include painting, pottery and ceramic art, fiber art, sculpture, photography, traditional arts, jewelry arts, and works on paper. The 20 featured works from the State Art Collection were selected to connect the rich and diverse Southern art histories and communities in Georgia.
Georgia’s State Art Collection is an extensive, vibrant chronicle of work created by Georgia artists from the 1970s to the 1990s. Each piece in the collection was juried by a panel of experts. The collection is a state asset that serves as an educational tool, preserves Georgia’s artistic heritage, and disseminates knowledge about Georgia’s art and artists.
“We are honored to host Reimagine: Contemporary Georgia Artists and to collaborate with artists and volunteers from the Madison Artists Guild, Southern Heartland Artists Guild in Covington, and The Artisan Village Artists Guild in Eatonton,” STMA Board Vice President Trish Thurman said. “Being selected as one of just 10 locations is a meaningful opportunity to bring this important exhibition to our region.”
The host communities were selected through a competitive application process focused on engaging small and rural communities across Georgia. The tour is designed to expand access to the State Art Collection, foster collaboration with local artists, and encourage cultural tourism.
“This traveling exhibition creates meaningful opportunities for collaboration while allowing communities to experience works from the State Art Collection without leaving town,” Georgia Council for the Arts Executive Director Tina Lilly said. “We hope it sparks dialogue, creativity, and community development across the state.”
Information about the tour, the State Art Collection, and other host locations is available at gaarts.org/programs/state-art-collection-tour.