Curriculum Vitae

LAURA A. THOMPSON 

  • Born 1980 in Rochester, NY
  • Lives and works in Harrisonburg, VA

EDUCATION 

  • BFA Graphic Design, James Madison University, 2003
  • MA Art Education, James Madison University, 2014
  • Master's Thesis: The Effects of Constructive Language Instruction and Cooperative Learning on the Quality of Artwork on the Middle Level, 2014

SOLO/DUAL EXHIBITIONS  

  • Little Worlds: New Works, Cultural Art Center, Glen Allen VA, May 2025
  • Parallel Dimensions in Color, Connaughton Gallery, UVA School of Business, Charlottesville VA, March-June 2025
  • Just a Moment: Works on Paper, Findings Art Gallery, Lynchburg VA, December 2024-January 2025
  • Little Worlds: Select Works, Francis Plecker Education Center, James Madison University, November-December 2024
  • Floral Worlds, Arts Council of the Valley Smith House Galleries, Harrisonburg, VA, October 2024
  • Little Worlds, The Frame Factory & Gallery, Harrisonburg VA, July-August 2024
  • Little Worlds, Staunton Augusta Art Center, Staunton, VA, May 17 - June 22 2024
  • Little Worlds, Blue Ridge Community College Art Gallery, Weyers Cave, VA, September 2023
  • Little Worlds, Ciders From Mars, Staunton VA, June-July 2023
  • Little Worlds: Works on Paper, Look West Gallery @  the Mark-It, Harrisonburg, VA, March 2023
  • Little Worlds: Mixed Media Works, Pale Fire Brewing Co., Harrisonburg, VA, September 2022
  • Little Things: Oil Paintings, Pale Fire Brewing Co., Harrisonburg, VA, September 2017
  • Still Life with Children: Oil Paintings, Larkin Arts, Harrisonburg, VA, November 2015
  • Gemini: Mixed Media Artworks, Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant, Harrisonburg, VA, October 2014
  • Art of Glass, Oasis Gallery, Harrisonburg, VA, April 2005

GROUP/COLLABORATIVE EXHIBITIONS 

  • Merge: New Works by Regional Artists and Educators, Ciders From Mars, Staunton VA, August-September 2025
  • Juried All-Media Show, Crossroads Art Center, Richmond VA, January 2025
  • The Deck Show, Sage Bird Cider Works, Harrisonburg VA, December 2024
  • Small Works Show, Waxwing Art Works, Charlottesville VA, November-December 2024
  • Black & White & Red All Over, Frame Factory & Gallery, Harrisonburg VA, November-December 2024
  • Art in the Halls, Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Winchester VA, July - August 2024 
  • Artfields, Lake City SC, April - May 2024
  • Size Matters Small Works Group Exhibition, Glave-Kocen petite, Richmond VA, January 2024
  • The Big Tiny Show, The District Gallery & Framery, Knoxville TN, November 2023 - January 2024
  • Lost & Found: Works by Laura Thompson and Jayme Driver, Pale Fire Brewing Co., Harrisonburg VA, November 2023
  • Arts Council of the Valley Members Show, Smith House Galleries, Harrisonburg VA, November 2023  
  • Teeny Tiny Trifecta 6, Second Street Gallery, Charlottesville VA, Sept 2023
  • People & the Planet Juried Show, Touchstone Gallery, Washington D.C, August 2023
  • VA Mennonite Retirement Community Annual Juried Show, Harrisonburg VA, May-July 2023
  • Juried All-Media Show, Crossroads Art Center, Richmond VA, March 2023
  • February 2023 Issue #31, Artistonish Magazine
  • The Smalls Show, Gallery 46 @ Mid-City Artisans, Baton Rouge LA, November 2022
  • 6x6x30 Show, Rocktown Arts, Harrisonburg VA, January 2022
  • The Telephone Show. Larkin Arts, Harrisonburg VA, December 2018
  • First Night Invitational, Marketplace Gallery, Harrisonburg VA, December 2017
  • Art Lotto Portrait Show, Spitzer Art Center, Harrisonburg VA, August 2016
  • The Deck Show Invitational, Larkin Arts, Harrisonburg VA, December 2015
  • Harrisonburg City Public Schools Art Teachers Show, Ruby's Lounge, March 2015
  • Annual Juried Show, Larkin Arts, Harrisonburg VA, February 2015
  • Art Teachers Who Make Art, Cleo Miller Gallery, Bridgewater College, December 2014
  • Art Lotto Portrait Show, Larkin Arts, Harrisonburg VA, August 2014
  • Art Lotto Portrait Show, Artful Dodger,Harrisonburg VA,  August 2013
  • VA Mennonite Retirement Community Juried Exhibition,Harrisonburg VA,  June 2006

ART FESTIVALS 

  • St. Petersburg Arts Festival, St. Petersburg FL, February 2026
  • Sarasota Fine Art Show, Sarasota FL, January 2026
  • Chastain Arts in the Park, Atlanta GA, November 2025
  • Stockley Gardens Arts Festival, Norfolk VA, October 2025
  • Alexandria Art Festival, Alexandria VA, September 2025
  • Piedmont Park Arts Festival, Atlanta GA, August 2025
  • Taubman Museum, Sidewalk Art Show, Roanoke VA, May-June 2025
  • Crozet Arts & Crafts Festival, Crozet VA, October 2024
  • Clothesline Art Festival, Rochester NY, September 2024 
  • Art in the Park, Staunton VA, August 2024
  • Taubman Museum, Sidewalk Art Show, Roanoke VA, June 2024 
  • Arts in the Park, Richmond VA, May 2024 
  • Fall Foliage Art Show, Waynesboro VA, October 2023 
  • Crozet Arts & Crafts Festival, Crozet VA, October 2023

AWARDS 

  • Honorable Mention, Juried All-Media Show, Crossroads Art Center, Richmond VA, January 2025
  • Emerging Woman Artist Award: Summer Edition, Arts to Heart Project, August 2024
  • LinDor Arts Mixed Media Merit Award, Taubman Museum Sidewalk Art Show, Roanoke, VA 2024
  • First Place (2D Mixed Media), Fall Foliage Art Show, Waynesboro VA, October 2023
  • Second Place (2D Media), Juried All-Media Show, Crossroads Art Center, Richmond VA, March 2023
  • First Place, The Smalls Show, Gallery 46 @ Mid-City Artisans, Baton Rouge LA, November 2022
  • Honorable Mention, 6x6x30 Show, Rocktown Arts, January 2022
  • Master of Design Award, Art Lotto Portrait Show 2016
  • VAEA Blue Ridge Region Middle School Art Teacher of the Year, 2015
  • Originality Award, Art Lotto Portrait Show 2014

MURALS 

SPECIAL PROJECTS & GRANTS 

  • Arts for Education Grant, Business of Art Digital Course, Arts Council of the Valley, November 2024
  • Public Art Forward Grant, MOD Displays Mural, Arts Council of the Valley, May 2023
  • Opening Doors: The Art of Inclusion, Public Art Project, Arts Council of the Valley, VA 2023
  • Harrisonburg Education Foundation Grant Recipient, 2011, 2013, 2015

PRESS 

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

TEACHING  

  • Community Adult and Youth Art Classes and Workshops, Harrisonburg, VA, 2005-present
  • Adjunct Art Faculty, Eastern Mennonite University, VA, Jan-Mar 2023
  • Middle and High School Art Educator, Harrisonburg City Public Schools, VA, 2011-2017
  • Adjunct Art Faculty, James Madison University, VA, 2006
  • Pre K - 8 Art Educator, Page County Public Schools, VA, 2004-2011

RELATED EXPERIENCE 

  • Guest Curator, Arts Council of the Valley Day of the Arts Exhibition, Marketplace Gallery, May-July 2024
  • Freelance Graphic Designer & Art Director, 2003-present
  • Guest Juror, Annual Juried Show, Larkin Arts, February 2017
  • Executive Board, Arts Council of the Valley, 2016-2019
  • Head Designer/Studio Artist, Carousel Stained Glass, 2003-2008

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