Steffen Thomas Museum of Art

The daughter of Steffen Thomas and Sara Douglass Thomas, Lisa Conner with some of the artwork in the museum. LEIGH LOFGREN/Staff

The daughter of Steffen Thomas and Sara Douglass Thomas, Lisa Conner with some of the artwork in the museum. LEIGH LOFGREN/Staff

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Steffen Thomas Museum celebrates Founders’ Day

Leigh Lofgren
Thursday, July 23, 2026
The Steffen Thomas Museum had its annual Founders’ Day Sunday to honor the life of founder Sara Douglass Thomas and to present the Charlie Bonner Award for Advancing Art Education.
“Moving People are Moving Targets,” is a painting by UGA grad Janie Geisler and one of 20 works in “Reimagine: Contemporary Georgia Artists,” to be presented April 20 to May 29 at the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art in rural Buckhead. CONTRIBUTED

“Moving People are Moving Targets,” is a painting by UGA grad Janie Geisler and one of 20 works in “Reimagine: Contemporary Georgia Artists,” to be presented April 20 to May 29 at the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art in rural Buckhead. CONTRIBUTED

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STMA to host traveling state art exhibit

News Staff
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
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.
Members of the Athens-based John W. Hancock Memorial Chapter 531 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart pose with the daughter of Charlie Bonner Award for Advancing Education winner Richard “Ole” Olsen, holding a photo of her father. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Members of the Athens-based John W. Hancock Memorial Chapter 531 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart pose with the daughter of Charlie Bonner Award for Advancing Education winner Richard “Ole” Olsen, holding a photo of her father. IAN TOCHER/Staff

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STMA Bonner Award presented to UGA’s Olsen

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art held its annual Founder’s Day Celebration on Saturday to honor the memory of Sara Douglass Thomas, who in 1997 opened the museum in rural Buckhead to showcase and honor her husband’s prodigious efforts in many varied art disciplines.
This painting by Raven Waters will be among the artworks displayed Feb. 1 to June 28 as part of the “Touch Grass” exhibition at the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art, presented by STMA and Georgia Writers Museum. CONTRIBUTED

This painting by Raven Waters will be among the artworks displayed Feb. 1 to June 28 as part of the “Touch Grass” exhibition at the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art, presented by STMA and Georgia Writers Museum. CONTRIBUTED

STMA, GWM present ‘Touch Grass’ experience

News Staff
Thursday, January 23, 2025
Developed in collaboration between the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art (STMA) and Georgia Writers Museum (GWM), a new Touch Grass exhibit at STMA will feature the art of painter Raven Waters, potter Senora Lynch of the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe, and Steffen Thomas, the rural Buckhead museum’s featured...
Author William Charles Conner's presents 'Out of Penumbra.' CONTRIBUTED

Author William Charles Conner's presents 'Out of Penumbra.' CONTRIBUTED

STMA hosting ‘Out of Penumbra’ book signing

News Staff
Thursday, November 14, 2024
The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art (STMA) in rural Buckhead will host author William Charles Conner on Nov. 23 as he presents Out of Penumbra, the final book in his memoir trilogy of a self-described “journey from ignorance to art.
(IAN TOCHER/Staff)

(IAN TOCHER/Staff)

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Styles brings local color to ‘Queer Perspectives’ exhibit

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Freddie Styles could never have imagined as a young boy that he would someday have his life’s work featured in a prestigious art gallery just a few miles away from the tin-roofed log cabin he was born into just east of Madison.
“Red Shoes and the Blues,” by Atlanta-based artist Royce Soble, will be exhibited among the works in STMA’s “Queer Perspectives” show for the rest of this year and early 2025. CONTRIBUTED

“Red Shoes and the Blues,” by Atlanta-based artist Royce Soble, will be exhibited among the works in STMA’s “Queer Perspectives” show for the rest of this year and early 2025. CONTRIBUTED

STMA presents ‘Queer Perspectives’ exhibition

News Staff
Thursday, August 8, 2024
In recognition of the vital importance of increased visibility and diverse representation of LGBTQ+ communities and issues, particularly in rural areas, Steffen Thomas Museum of Art is presenting “Queer Perspectives,” a juried exhibition opening Aug. 10 and closing Jan.
Keynote speaker Yu Kai Lin said he felt “honored” to be included in the annual STMA Founders Day event. (IAN TOCHER/Staff)

Keynote speaker Yu Kai Lin said he felt “honored” to be included in the annual STMA Founders Day event. (IAN TOCHER/Staff)

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STMA hosts annual Founder’s Day event

Story And Photos By Ian Tocher
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art hosted its annual Founder’s Day event Sunday evening at its gallery in rural Buckhead.
Even the picture frames are Steffen Thomas works of art in some cases (left). Each of these pieces from the Dick and Marge Lowrance collection will be carefully hung and displayed at STM as part of the new Peace in Our Time exhibit.

Even the picture frames are Steffen Thomas works of art in some cases (left). Each of these pieces from the Dick and Marge Lowrance collection will be carefully hung and displayed at STM as part of the new Peace in Our Time exhibit.

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Steffen Thomas Museum presents all-new exhibit

Story And Photos By Ian Tocher
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
After lifelong art collectors Marjorie and Richard Lowrance bequeathed their extensive Steffen Thomas art collection to the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art (STMA) in Buckhead, it officially became part of the museum’s permanent collection two years ago.
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