The Leslie Powell Gallery Presents Two New Art Exhibitions and a Special Engagement.
The Leslie Powell Gallery is proud to present the opening of two new art exhibitions. So the Days Pass: Works on Paper by Christen Humphries and Discovery by Thomas Stotts will open with a reception on Saturday, 15 November 2025. In addition to these two exhibitions, the gallery will also host a special exhibition of art by students of Eisenhower High School.
For Cameron University alumni, Christen Humphries, creating art is a way for her to explore the world. “I divide my work into my daily sketches, and my refined works. Each are important in my process.” Through her daily sketching practice, Humphries creates quick compositions in watercolor, gouache, or pencil on paper. In addition to these “diary entries”, she devotes more time to larger compositions, meticulously working until the piece is completed. “When I am captivated by a subject, usually a tree, I will create a piece that will take weeks to months to complete. I will photograph it, choose my paper size and begin working.”
Christen Humphries is an adjunct professor at Cameron University. After earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Cameron in 2003, she earned her Master of Fine Arts from Texas Woman’s Univeristy in 2009. Her work is represented in multiple galleries across the country.
Growing up in Oklahoma, Thomas Stotts has always admired the beauty and mystery of the clouds that would move in across the plains. “It is natural that I became a landscape painter. I like atmosphere and minimalist design elements in my work.” Working on canvas and wood, Stotts’s acrylic paintings are dramatic and full of ambiance. “This show is about my lifelong pursuit of painting Oklahoma’s countryside.”
Thomas Stotts has been teaching weekly painting classes in Edmond and Norman since 2012. He has participated in numerous juried exhibitions. In addition to the collections of CEOs and banking commissioners, his work is also on permanent display at the Oklahoma State Capital.
At Eisenhower High School, many students who enroll in Art have never taken an art class before. For art teacher Hannah Mentel, it is rewarding to see students who begin the course feeling hesitant gradually gain confidence, pride, and excitement in their work. While some may pursue art as part of their future careers, the program’s broader goal is to help all students develop a lasting appreciation for the arts, whether as a professional pursuit or a personal hobby. At its core, the program seeks to instill a growth mindset, encouraging students to recognize that with persistence and practice, they can continually improve their skills.
A selection of work by Eisenhower High School art students will be on display along with the exhibitions of the two professional artists. All three exhibtions will open with a reception on Saturday, 15 November 2025. Doors open at 6:00 PM, and the gallery will be open until 8:00 PM. As with all events at the Leslie Powell Gallery, this reception is free to attend and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. After the reception, the exhibition will be available to view during regular gallery hours from Tuesday,18 November to Friday, 19 Decmeber 2025. Regular gallery hours are 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
The Leslie Powell Foundation Gallery is a non-profit organization whose mission is to celebrate and promote the arts in the Lawton community as well as Southwestern Oklahoma. The gallery hosts six art exhibitions per year in addition to lectures and musical performances. More information can be found at the gallery’s website, www.lpgallery.org, and its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/lpartgallery.