from The Gainsville Times
A Gesture of Faith: Brenau features artwork from the late William J. Thompson
The new exhibit that celebrates the late William J. Thompson’s work is currently housed in the Presidents Gallery at Brenau University.
By Donnell Suggs
Excerpt courtesy of The Gainsville Times, July 16, 2025. Read the full article here.
The late William J. Thompson, a sculptor and Georgia professor, used to create his art with God in mind. From the 1950s through his passing in the mid-1990s, Thompson made sure to have angels’ wings and crucifixes among the many clay, bronze, steel pieces and etchings that he created.
A new exhibit that celebrates Thompson’s work is currently housed in the Presidents Gallery at Brenau University. Titled “Gestures of Faith,” the collection was curated by Lybi Cucurullo, the director of the Galleries and curator of the permanent collection at Brenau University. Thompson was primarily a bronze sculptor, but worked in many other materials, including terracotta, steel, bronze and wood. continue reading
“The Creation of Man,” an etching of God breathing life into man that was made in 1986, and “The Promise” and “The Promise II,” also etchings of religious scenes, are all on display in the “Gestures of Faith” exhibition. Thompson’s faith is on display, and Cucurullo said that is what she believes the Thompson family wanted when they donated the art to Brenau. Pieces such as “Annunciation” (1976) and “Annunciation II” (1978) both prominently feature a woman in a prayer position. Her eyes and right arm are both pointed to the sky.
“They wanted it all in one place, and we were able to do that,” Cucurullo said.”