Vernon J. Thornsberry

Vernon Thornsberry, Photo by Jason Thrasher — **Vernon J. Thornsberry** is a fine artist who lives and works in Athens, Georgia. Thornsberry is originally from New Orleans, where he was mentored for many years in the studio of George Dureau, a contemporary artist who also mentored Robert Mapplethorpe. Vernon’s work is in the permanent collections of The Ogden Museum of Southern Art (where Vernon’s self portrait with George Dureau hangs in the museum director’s office) and The Historic New Orleans Collection (a painting originally commissioned by James Carville for New Orlean’s annual Mardi Gras festivities). Thornsberry’s most recent solo shows were held at the Lyndon House Arts Center in 2018 and at the Old Firehall on Prince Avenue in 2016, in Athens. Thornsberry can also be found around Athens singing or leading several musical ensembles and playing the saxophone (along with dozens of other instruments), and he recently played himself in the feature film Ragged Heart. The ACE/FRANCISCO opening for Vernon’s show was Flagpole Magazine’s Pick of the Week.

***More about Vernon:***
**Red & Black** From New Orleans to Athens: Vernon Thornsberry shares his decades-long art career
**Athens Music Project Oral History Collection** Interview with Vernon Thornsberry

From the permanent collection of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art: Vernon Thornsberry by George Bureau — From the permanent collection of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art:
*Vernon Thornsberry* by George Dureau

From the permanent collection of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art: Self Portrait with George Dureau by Vernon Thornsberry — From the permanent collection of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art:
*Self Portrait with George Dureau* by Vernon Thornsberry

Our first opening at the ACE/FRANCISCO Gallery for Vernon J. Thornsberry on May 19, 2022 was an event to remember.
Thank you to Vernon for sharing his art with us and with the Athens community. Vernon sold three paintings at his opening, The Silly Girls, Still Life with Clay Pot, and Still Life with White Flowers. Big thanks to Cat Bobon, Mark Babcock and Karen Graffeo for additional photography, to the rock-n-roller Paige Cole for managing original art and print sales and for being Vernon’s liaison to everything, to our favorite art and design mavens Harper Calhoun, Olivia Daniel and Franni Thrasher for helping with the event, and to Shiraz in The Leathers Building for catering.