Artist and Co-Chair Nate Theisen to Showcase New Work for Solo Exhibit

JACKSON, Miss. (October 29, 2025) – Belhaven University’s Art and Design Department will feature new work by award-winning artist and department co-chair Nate Theisen in a solo exhibition on display November 1 through December 5 in the Bitsy Irby Art Gallery.

Theisen’s latest collection explores the tension between abstraction and representation, evoking living forms that appear to shift, expand, and dissolve before the viewer’s eyes. His work reflects both fragility and transformation, inviting audiences to consider the boundaries between what is seen and what is imagined.

Drawing inspiration from his childhood visits to natural history museums, Theisen employs a methodical, almost scientific approach to building his pieces. The skeletal structures and fossils he once studied now inform his art, prompting viewers to imagine the missing elements of once-living forms and to reflect on the intersection of memory, myth, and speculation.

“I’m drawn to the way memory merges with myth, and how research can open space for speculation,” Theisen said. “Through the imaginative reconstruction of these beings, I hope to create a metaphor for how we each construct our own sense of being.”

A reception will be held November 8 from 2–4 p.m., followed by a gallery talk on November 17 from 4–5 p.m. The exhibition is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This event is part of Belhaven University’s Arts Ablaze series, which showcases performances and exhibitions across the School of the Arts, including plays, dance and music concerts, poetry readings, and visual art displays throughout the year.