Tom Wegrzynowski

Tom Wegrzynowski is a full-time Instructor in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Alabama, where he has taught since 2006. He holds an MFA from the University of Alabama (2006) and specializes in studio art and art history. His teaching includes courses such as Drawing I, Painting I, and Art Theory and Criticism. Wegrzynowski’s research explores contemporary culture through oil painting, focusing on themes like media fragmentation and societal desires. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including solo shows at the Malone Gallery (Troy University) and the Sarah Moody Gallery of Art (University of Alabama). He has received notable awards such as the Reece Museum Award (2022) and grants from the Joan Mitchell Foundation.

His artistic practice includes collaborative projects like the “Hand to Hand” chronicle of the Iraq War and illustrations for Alan May’s anthology Dead Letters. Recent exhibitions include the 23rd Annual No Dead Artists International Juried Exhibition (New Orleans) and the Wiregrass Biennial (Dothan, AL). Wegrzynowski’s work critically engages with questions of entertainment, media, and the intersection of reality and editorialized culture.

• Awards:
  • Reece Museum Award (2022)
  • Trudy Williamson Award
  • Howard & Michael Goodson Purchase Award
  • Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant
• Grants & Collaborations:
  • Emergency support grant from Joan Mitchell Foundation
  • Collaborations on projects like Hand to Hand and Dead Letters

Wegrzynowski’s exhibitions often reflect his thematic focus on contemporary societal narratives, with solo and group shows at institutions such as the Wiregrass Museum of Art, Lowe Mill, and the Delaplaine Visual Arts Center. His work bridges academic teaching and artistic practice, influencing both his pedagogy and creative output.