My watercolor drawings emerge as poetic expressions of my wonderment for the natural world. They provide a surreal, emotional, and ineffable response to overwhelming beauty.

The works are almost always based on actual places that I’ve visited and are the result of an internal process that involves meshing together memories with science, philosophy, or history.

My interpretations of the landscape are conceptual. I often use recurring motifs, such as cross-sections and concentric patterning in order to open up the landscape and tell the story of its inner workings.

Bryce Lafferty

The artwork of award-winning artist Bryce Lafferty has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in museums and galleries in the United States and in Japan. In Alabama his work has been featured in the Huntsville Museum of Art; the Wiregrass Museum of Art in Dothan; the Heritage Hall Museum in Talladega, the Gadsden Museum of Art; and the Comer Museum, in Sylacauga.

His extensive list of exhibitions also includes the Site:Brooklyn Gallery in New York City; the S. Tucker Cooke Gallery, University of North Carolina Asheville; the Artwell Gallery in Torrington, CT; the Slocumb Gallery, East Tennessee University in Johnson City; the Nahcotta Gallery in Portsmouth, NH; the Craighead Green Gallery and the Latino Cultural Center in Dallas; and the Japan International Watercolor Exhibition, in Niigata, Japan.

EDUCATION

2009, MFA in Studio Art, University of North Texas

2004, BA in painting, Central Connecticut State University

CURRENT POSITION

Department Head, Department of Art + Design

Professor of Drawing and Painting

Jacksonville State University

2011 – Present

COMPETITIVE JURIED EXHIBITIONS

2023, Small Works Juried Exhibition, Five Points Gallery, Torrington, CT

2022, What on Earth is Happening, Mark Arts, Wichita, KS

2021, Landscape: Exploring the Built and Grown, Site:Brooklyn Gallery, New York City

2021, Drawing Discourse, 12th Annual Exhibition of Contemporary Drawing, S. Tucker Cooke Gallery, University of North Carolina, Asheville, NC

2020, B20: Wiregrass Biennial, Wiregrass Museum of Art, Dothan, AL

2020, Topographies, Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio

2015, Drawing Discourse, 6th Annual Exhibition of Contemporary Drawing, S. Tucker Cooke Gallery, University of North Carolina, Asheville, NC

2014, The Red Clay Survey: 2014 Exhibition of Contemporary Southern Art, Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, AL

2013, Vista: Landscape in Contemporary Art, Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH

2013, 55th Annual Juried Art Show, Gadsden Museum of Art, Gadsden, AL

2013, 17th Annual Juried Show, Artwell Gallery, Torrington, CT

2012, The Day on Fire: Apocalypse in Contemporary Art, Slocumb Gallery, TN

2012, Southworks, Watkinsville, GA

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2024, Bryce Lafferty, Momentum Gallery, Asheville, NC

2024, Local Poetry, Plaza Gallery, Hoover Public Library, Hoover, AL

2022, Boundarylands, Momentum Gallery, Asheville, NC

2022, Intermountain Mythology, Poole Gallery, University of Montevallo Gallery, AL

2020, Eastern Forest, Walnut Gallery, Gadsden, AL

2017, Peripheral Gardens, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Birmingham, AL

2013, Microclimates, Arnold Gallery, Shorter University, Rome, GA

2012, On Paper, Hammond Gallery, Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, AL

2012, Open System, Heritage Hall Museum, Talladega, AL

2011, Bryce Lafferty, Brookhaven College, Dallas, TX

2009, Vicious Candied Dreaming, Visual Art League of Lewisville, Lewisville, TX

2009, Spied Ramon, Horizon Gallery, Carrolton, TX

2008, Childish, Cora Stafford Gallery, Denton, TX

2007, Allegory of a Child’s Voice, Installation at Alpha Christian Academy, Denton, TX

INVITATIONAL EXHIBITIONS

2024, Conservation Through Art: Saving Alabama’s Hemlock’s, Gadsden Museum of Art, Gadsden, AL

2023, Alabama Invitational, Space One Eleven, Birmingham, AL

2023, Zion National Park Human History Museum, ZNP, UT

2022, Alabama State Council for the Arts Annual Fellowship Exhibition, Georgine Clarke Alabama Artists Gallery, Montgomery, AL

2022, Enormous Tiny Art 31, Nahcotta Gallery, Portsmouth, NH

2021, Small Works I Big Impact, Momentum Gallery, Asheville, NC

2020, Enormous Tiny Art 27, Nahcotta Gallery, Portsmouth, NH

2019, In the landscape and of the landscape, Momentum Gallery, Asheville, NC

2018, Torn, Ripped, Cut: The Art of Collage, Housatonic Museum of Art, Bridgeport, CT

2014, Walnut Gallery 2014 Invitational, Hardin Center for Cultural Arts, Gadsden, AL

2009, Japan International Watercolor Exhibition, Niigata Prefectural Civic Center, Niigata, Japan

2008, Japan International Watercolor Exhibition, Niigata Prefectural Civic Center, Niigata, Japan

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2022, Annual Fellowship Exhibition, Georgine Clarke Alabama Artists Gallery, Montgomery, AL

2017, McElroy, Lafferty, Oles, Catalyst Gallery, Anniston, AL

2016, Pockets of Stillness, Abernathy Art Center, Atlanta, GA

2015, Wander, Gadsden Museum of Art, Gadsden, AL

2014, Remote Topographies, Comer Museum, Sylacauga, AL

2013, Faculty Exhibition, Hammond Hall Gallery, Jacksonville, AL

2013, Artworks Spring Exhibition, Nunnally’s Gallery, Anniston, AL

2012, Faculty Exhibition, Hammond Gallery, Jacksonville, AL

2012, Plurality: Paperwork, LSC-Kingwood Art Gallery, TX

2011, Common Things, Walnut Gallery, Gadsden, AL

2011, Catherine Lan, Bryce Lafferty, Derek Leka, Washington Art Association, Washington Depot, CT

2010, Work, Brazos Gallery, Dallas, TX

2009, UNT Faculty Exhibition, University of North Texas, Denton, TX

2009, Art Track 001, Modshop Gallery, Dallas, TX

2009, New Texas Talent, Craighead Green Gallery, Dallas, TX

2009, Hecho en Dallas, Latino Cultural Center, Dallas, TX

2009, 43rd Annual Regional Juried Exhibition, Richardson Civic Art Center, Richardson, TX

2009, Expo 2009, 500x Gallery, Dallas, TX

2008, MFA/CAA, College Art Association, Denton, TX

ARTIST RESIDENCIES

2025, Island Press Artist Research Fellowship, Washington University, St. Louise, MO

2024, Great Basin National Park Artist Residency, GBNP, NV

2023, Nocefresca Artist Residency, Milis, Sardegna, Italy

2022, Zion National Park Artist in Residence, ZNP, UT

2020, Tallgrass Artist Residency, Matfield Green, Flint Hills Region, KS

2016, National Parks Service Centennial Artist-in-Residence, Glacier National Park, MT

ACADEMIC PAPERS and PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

2024, Professional Practices: Residencies, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO

2023, Artist Talk, Space One Eleven, Birmingham, AL

2023, Public Presentation for the Nature Artist’s Guild, Morton Arboretum, Chicago, IL

2023, Conceptual Landscape Painting Workshop, Morton Arboretum, Chicago, IL

2023, Painting Class for the Community, Milis, Sardegna, Italy

2023, Public Talk, Civic Museums of Cagliari, Sardegna, Italy

2022, Artist Talk, Watchman Campground Amphitheater, Zion National Park, UT

2020, Zoom Q&A with Bryce Lafferty, Tallgrass Artist Residency, Matfield Green, KS

2020, Juror Talk, 70th Annual Mississippi Collegiate Art Competition, Mississippi University for Women, Columbus, MS

2019, Artist Talk, Momentum Gallery, Asheville, NC

2016, Artist Presentation, Glacier National Park, MO

2012, Childish: The influence of Child Rearing on my Artist Practice, Southeastern College Art Conference, Durham, NC

BIBLIOGRAPHY

2024, Bryce Lafferty, By Lauren Stepp, Asheville Made, Sept. 4, 2024, https://ashevillemade.com/bryce-lafferty/

2024, Bryce Lafferty is Featured at Hoover Public Libraries Friends, Plaza Art Galleries, by Katherarine Armbrester, Hoover Sun, July 26, 2024, https://hooversun.com/peopleplaces/bryce-lafferty-to-be-featured-at-hoover-public-library%E2%80%99s-fri/

2023, Interviews with the artists 2023 #10 Bryce Lafferty, Nocefresca, Artist Residency in Sardegna,

2023, “I musei civici per crescere si affidano agli influencer”, Cultura, Cagliari, Italy

2022, Symphony in the Flint Hills contributing artist, Cottonwood Falls, KS

2021, “Featured Faculty: Mr Bryce Lafferty”, Jacksonville Sate University, Arts and Humanities Blog, Feb. 23, 2021

2021, “Bryce Lafferty” Artist a Day

2020, “Illustrating America’s Natural Heritage” Landmark Highlights

2020, Tallgrass Artist in Residence Reflection, https://tallgrassartistresidency.org/bryce-lafferty/

2020, B20 Artist Interview with Bryce Lafferty, wmaINSPIRED BLOG, Aug. 23

2020, ‘Eastern Forest’ Opens Thursday at Walnut Gallery, Gadsden Times, Feb. 12

2020, Jacksonville Artist’s Paintings Celebrate Alabama’s Natural Wonders, Anniston Star, March 1

2020, Three Artists View of Cathedral Caverns, Guest Blogger for Mountains and Lakes Chamber of Commerce, Jackson County, AL

2020, Cutaway Drawings in Watercolor and Guache by Bryce LaffertyI, My Modern Met

2019, Andy Smith, “The Cutaway Landscapes of Bryce Lafferty, Hi-Fructose

SELECTED AWARDS AND HONORS

2024, Paint Rock, a Heritage for the World: Alabama Artists Interpret our State's Most Remarkable Forest, Alabama State Council on the Arts Project Grant, $4,100

2022, Faculty Research Grant, Jacksonville State University, International Artist Residency, $2,934.00

2021, Alabama State Council on Arts the Fellowship Grant, $5000

2020, School of Arts and Humanities Creative Activity Award, School of Arts and Humanities, Jacksonville State University.

2019, SAH Professional Development Grant, School of Arts and Humanities, Jacksonville State University, AL

2019, Faculty Research Grant for Interpreting Alabama’s National Natural Landmarks, Jacksonville State University, AL

2017, Faculty Research Grant for Digital Drawing Technologies, Jacksonville State University, AL

2014, Faculty Research Grant for Water-mixable Oils, Jacksonville State University, AL

2013, 1st Place in Watercolor for Hanging Gardens with Balloons, Gadsden Art Association,

2013, Juror Award, Valarie Garlick, Visual Arts Manager, Real Artways - 2012, Faculty Research Grant, Jacksonville State University, AL

COLLECTIONS

Zion National Park Permanent Collection, ZNP, UT

Housatonic Museum of Art Permanent Collection, Bridgeport, CT

CURATORIAL PROJECTS

Ongoing, Paint Rock: Drawing Knowledge from Nature, Exhibition Scheduled for August 2025 at the Manners Gallery on the campus of Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, AL

2020, Juror, 70th Annual Mississippi Collegiate Art Competition, Mississippi University of Women, Columbus, Mississippi.

2015, Lead Curator, Ley Lines: Connecting Media, Process, Imagery, and Concept Across Contemporary Drawing, Hammond Gallery, Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, AL - 2011 – 2017, rotating art and design exhibitions, 3-5 yearly across 3 gallery spaces.

COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS

2023, Great Minds, Grade 5 Language Arts, Extreme Settings Module Spot Illustrations, Richmond, WA