FERRARA SHOWMAN GALLERY is proud to present Dragonflies are a Compass, the third solo exhibition of New Orleans-based, self-taught photographer and painter Trenity Thomas. This exhibition serves to offer a closer look at the artist’s painting practice. Having worked almost exclusively in photography until 2018, Thomas has been actively cultivating this aspect of his studio, seriously and concertedly finding his voice and message in this medium. On the heels of an Autumn/Winter 2024 residency at the Joan Mitchell Center, this first complete and cohesive series of twelve paintings is accompanied by four new photographs. Unlike his preceding photography - and paintings inspired by or referencing the photos - these works tell intimate, personal stories of the artist’s chapters of life: life experiences, coming of age stories, and identity.

The exhibition will be on view through 13 December with an artist reception on 6 December from 5 – 9 PM in conjunction with the Arts District New Orleans’ monthly First Saturday Gallery Openings and special holiday-themed art walk event Holidays Cheers.

Thomas discusses the inspiration for his new work . . .

Dragonflies hold a special meaning for me, symbolizing the South and fond memories of my childhood with my Momo. We'd gently catch them by the tail when they'd land nearby. To me, dragonflies represent resilience and joy, signaling better times ahead, prosperity, and exciting experiences on the horizon. Like the dragonflies, many of the motifs I incorporate in my imagery are inspired by personal memories of making lemonade for one great-grandmother, picking loquats in another's backyard, and gathering pecans with my grandmother. As a Southern-born Black man, my imagination knows no bounds. Growing up in this rich cultural landscape has fueled my creativity, and I'm excited to see where my imagination takes me.

One vein of my work explores the intersection of past and present, merging photography and painting to capture the essence of childhood wonder and everyday life. Drawing from experiences or capturing a moment: “How was the Party” captures that perception of feeling like an outlier at a party and how it can spark an introspective journey into self-perception, body image, and societal pressures. Another view celebrates the joy and simple pleasures of childhood. Then conversely, another canvas examines the feeling of being “other” – knowing from a young age that I was different, not masculine enough. “Is He a Fairy? No, He’s A Dragonfly” personifies my own personal liberation of societal norms. In “Hands on Hips”, I continue this challenging of traditional masculinity, celebrating self-expression and openness, and defying outdated norms through art. I create to cultivate a magnetic force of happiness and peace, drawing in positivity while gracefully sidestepping negativity.

Trenity Thomas is a self-taught photographer who has also experimented with painting and sketching since grade school. As a photographer, he has worked in a myriad of genres including fashion, lifestyle, editorial, conceptual, sports, portraiture, and nightlife photography. As a photographer, Trenity uses his camera to capture the life and composition of still life around him. His photographs have a warmth to them that pulls the viewer into the scene as if they were present - a feature that has become characteristic of his photographic style. 

Trenity Thomas has been in various juried exhibitions, most recently, FERRARA SHOWMAN GALLERY’s 24th Annual NO DEAD ARTISTS International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Art and the Louisiana Contemporary juried exhibition presented by The Helis Foundation at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans, Louisiana. His photographs have also received international attention when they were chosen for exhibition in photovogue, a prestigious collection of photographs curated by the Photo Editors of Vogue Italia.

For more information, press or sales inquiries please contact Gallery Director Matthew Weldon Showman at 504.343.6827 or matthew@ferrarashowman.com. Please join the conversation with FSG on Instagram (@FerraraShowmanGallery) via the hashtags: #TrenityThomas #FerraraShowmanGallery, and #ArtsDistrictNewOrleans.