A collection of paintings by Troy University alumna and former employee Kitty Smothers is now on display at TROY’s International Arts Center on the Troy Campus.

“Wild and Holy Things: Recent Works by Kitty Smothers” will be on display in the IAC’s Foyer Gallery through Aug. 28. An artist’s reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 20.

“Through Wild and Holy Things, Kitty Smothers transforms familiar landscapes and quiet moments into deeply reflective spaces,” said Carrie Jaxon, Director and Curator of the IAC. “Her work reminds us of the beauty and sense of wonder found within the everyday, and we are honored to share this thoughtful exhibition with our community.”

Smothers’ work is rooted in a deep connection to the Southern landscape.

“From an early age, I was drawn outside – gardening alongside my grandparents, playing in the dirt and finding a sense of belonging in the natural world,” Smothers said. “That early closeness shaped not only how I see the land, but how I experience it. In a life increasingly shaped by noise and technology, I believe we’ve grown disconnected from that grounding presence. For me, nature is a place of return—where I feel most centered, most at peace. Even in difficult seasons, simply stepping outside and feeling the sun has had the power to steady me.”

Smothers says her paintings serve as an invitation to slow down and rediscover the quiet wonder and presence woven into the natural world.

“I’m drawn to quiet, easily overlooked scenes – a fading field, an old house, the hush of trees,” she said. “Rather than painting a place exactly as it appears, I focus on how it feels, using muted color, softened edges and layered texture to evoke stillness, memory and time.”

Smothers earned a Bachelor of Science in Studio Art from Troy University and a Master of Science in Counseling and Psychology. She recently retired after 25 years at TROY, transitioning into full-time studio practice.

Raised in a creative family with a father who was both a painter and musician, Smothers apprenticed under the late internationally known artist Nall Hollis.

For more than 27 years, Smothers has painted and sold her work professionally, with a primary focus on portraiture. Working primarily in acrylic, she is known for atmospheric paintings that balance expressive texture with restraint.

In addition to her studio work, she is recognized for her live wedding paintings, where she captures both the likeness of her subjects and the atmosphere of the moment in real time.

She currently lives in South Alabama with her husband, one daughter, and two dachshunds.

The IAC will host the June 13 ArtSPARK program from 10 a.m.–noon in the Foyer Gallery, where Smothers’ work is currently on view. The featured art activity, created by artist Rebekah Alexander, draws inspiration from Smothers’ landscape paintings. ArtSPARK is supported through generous funding from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

For additional information about TROY’s International Arts Center and current exhibits, visit troy.edu/iac.