From large-scale public works to award-winning ceramics, Galveston College Visual
Arts Coordinator Amanda Barry Jones continues to make waves in the Texas art scene,
and her creative reach is an extraordinary asset for GC students.
Most recently, Jones’ proposal was selected for the prestigious True North Heights
Boulevard Sculpture Project, where only eight artists were commissioned to exhibit
large-scale public works along Houston’s iconic Heights Boulevard.
Her piece, “Nature Reclaims: Wood Pile,” will be on display until Jan. 15, 2026. Inspired
by the devastation of the 2024 May derecho, a destructive windstorm, and Hurricane
Beryl, the sculpture transforms imagery of destruction into a celebration of resilience.
Ceramic creatures such as birds, insects, reptiles and mammals emerge from storm debris
as emblems of regeneration and hidden beauty.
“The past year has been filled with amazing experiences which have allowed me to expand
my vision and creativity,” said Jones. “Continuing to practice my creative work in
the public space allows me to gain additional experience I can pass along to our students
in class, and also to help guide them through the artistic process, and how to market
themselves and their artwork in the art community.”
Jones was also chosen for a permanent, site-specific sculpture commission to be unveiled
in December 2025, further cementing her reputation as a dynamic artist whose work
bridges environmental themes, memory and community storytelling.
Her presence is equally strong in Texas galleries and museums. Jones was featured
this year in two group exhibitions: “The Wild and Us” at the Art Museum of Texas in
Sugar Land, from June through early September, and “Work in Play” at Monterosso Gallery
in Houston in August.
Her ceramic artistry continues to receive critical acclaim. In late 2024, she earned
an Honorable Mention at the Annual ClayHouston Members Exhibition: Formative Narratives
for “Spirit Under a Blood Moon,” juried by Elizabeth Essner, associate curator of
Craft at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston.
In August 2024, she presented “Ancestral Reverie,” a solo exhibition at Red Bud Arts
Center, exploring abstract ceramic landscapes drawn from her childhood memories of
the Big Thicket swamps, ancestral memory, and indigenous histories.
Through it all, Jones brings this depth of creative experience to Galveston College,
enriching students’ learning with a combination of creativity, innovation and professionalism.
Her mentorship encourages students to explore their own artistic voices while providing
the skills and confidence needed to thrive in today’s evolving arts industry.
For more information about the Galveston College Art program, contact Amanda Barry
Jones, the GC Art Gallery Curator and Visual Arts Coordinator at [email protected], or visit gc.edu/artgallery.
ABOUT GALVESTON COLLEGE
Galveston College was founded in 1967 and is a comprehensive community college providing
the residents of Galveston Island and the surrounding region with academic, workforce
development, continuing education and community service programs.