On October 5th, 2023, artist and alumnus Adam Trest visited MSU to give a talk to students, faculty, and the public. Trest discussed his own experience as an artist and storyteller while showing examples of his work as a book illustrator, fine artist, and product designer.
Storytelling, the theme of the talk is also the title of the new exhibition of artwork in the Cullis Wade Depot Art Gallery. From October 5th through November 11th, 2023, several works by Trest are on display including paintings from Trest's "Mississippi: Lost and Found" series. According to Trest, the works are "a celebration of the story of Mississippi and the flora and fauna that make our state unique. Each painting represents a region of our state." Visitors to the gallery will also get to see the process of book illustration in a display of original sketches, watercolor illustrations, and publisher's proofs for The Lantern House. This endearing children's book, written by Erin Napier and illustrated by Adam Trest, spent three weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.
Adam Trest is most recognizable from his appearances on HGTV's "Hometown" filmed in Laurel, MS. On the show, he provides original art, illustrations, and advise for items going into home designs. For over a decade, Adam Trest has worked as an artist in Laurel, Mississippi. He graduated from Mississippi State University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and has experience as a set designer, arts educator, product designer, and studio artist. His work has been featured on Hometown, HGTV, and in Garden&Gun and he recently completed exhibits at the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience in Meridian, MS and Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, Laurel, MS. In October, Trest was the keynote speaker for the Mississippi Art Commission's State Arts Conference in Jackson, MS. Trest's work can be found everywhere from Laurel’s South Central Regional Medical Center to the homes of collectors all across the United States. He sells both prints and originals and remains resolute in the belief that good art is both inspiring and accessible. Today, he is represented by the Caron Gallery, a collective of Mississippi visual artists. To find out more about Adam Trest, visit adamtrest.com.