Durant Thompson

Durant Thompson is a Professor of Art and Area Head of Sculpture at the University of Mississippi's Department of Art and Art History, part of the College of Liberal Arts. He serves as BFA Program Coordinator and holds an office in 11 Meek Hall. His academic journey includes a BFA in Sculpture from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville (1997) and an MFA in Sculpture from Louisiana State University (2001).

Thompson’s research and creative practice focus on sculpture, public art installations, and metal fabrication. He co-founded the Yokna Sculpture Trail in Oxford, Mississippi (2015), and has exhibited work regionally, nationally, and internationally, including venues like the Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Competition (Boone, NC) and Sculpture Walk Jax (Jacksonville, FL). His work is featured in permanent collections such as the Hattiesburg Area Historical Society Museum and Latvia’s Talsi Regional Museum.

He actively participates in academic and professional engagements, including conference presentations on contemporary cast iron art and sculpture practices. Notable contributions include roles on steering committees for the International Conference on Contemporary Cast Iron Art and panelist activities at SECAC and Mid-America Art Alliance conferences. Thompson has also delivered artist lectures at universities like the University of Tennessee and LSU.

Academically, he teaches courses ranging from introductory sculpture to advanced thesis preparation. His professional service includes coordinating exhibitions and panels for events like the International Sculpture Conference (2019) and the National Conference on Contemporary Cast Iron Art (since 2001). His creative and scholarly work is supported by grants from the Mississippi Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Future projects include exhibitions at the HAPA Outdoor Sculpture Competition (Hattiesburg, MS) and the International Conference on Contemporary Cast Iron Art in Scranton, PA.