Artist Book Talk with Mark Thistlethwaite and Jim Woodson

In celebration of the TCU Press’ publication of The Art of Jim Woodson: Landscape and the Poetics of Place by Mark Thistlethwaite, please join the author and the artist in conversation where they discuss the development of the book, explore the arc of Woodson’s more-than-fifty years as a landscape painter, and examine how the artist’s lived biography, art historical contexts, and geographic environments have shaped and framed his imagery.

This program is free, open to the public, and will be held in the Modern’s auditorium.

About Jim Woodson

Woodson stands as a vital figure in the Texas art world, bridging tradition and innovation, pedagogy and practice. His visionary style, which elevates the landscape into a contemplative and intellectual inquiry, has left a lasting mark on both canvas and community. Through his paintings, Woodson invites viewers not only to look at a place, but to inhabit the space of memory and imagination that defines it. As a painter of the inner and outer desert, he continues to inspire awe, introspection, and a deeper appreciation for the quiet grandeur of the American Southwest.

Woodson's commitment to his subject matter is matched by his dedication to teaching and artistic mentorship. After earning his BFA from Texas Christian University (TCU) in 1965 and his MFA from the University of Texas at Austin in 1967, Woodson taught painting and drawing at TCU for nearly four decades, from 1974 until his retirement in 2013. Over the course of his academic career, Woodson became a formative influence for generations of young Texas artists. In 2013, Woodson was named the Texas State Visual Artist for two-dimensional work, a prestigious designation awarded by the Texas Commission on the Arts. This honor recognized his significant contributions to the state’s cultural landscape — not only as a painter but also as a steward of visual arts education. This high distinction by the state led to Woodson’s being tapped in 2014 to serve as a private painting instructor to former President George W. Bush. 

Woodson’s paintings are held in major collections, including the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth; San Antonio Museum of Art; El Paso Museum of Art; The Grace Museum, Abilene, Texas; Amarillo Art Center; Midwestern University, Wichita Falls, Texas, The Old Jail Art Center, Albany, Texas; The San Angelo Museum of Art; The University of Dallas, Irving, Texas; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, among many others.

About Mark Thistlethwaite

With art history degrees from University of California, Santa Barbara and the University of Pennsylvania, Mark Thistlethwaite taught a range of courses focused on American visual for 43 years at TCU, where he was named the initial holder of endowed Kay and Velma Kimbell Chair of Art History. He has published and lectured extensively on American visual culture, curated/co-curated a dozen exhibitions on historical and contemporary art, and chaired the City of Fort Worth’s Art Commission.