More about Carla

Carla Thomson

Carla Thomson is a fine artist and ceramicist whose work embodies organic elegance and timeless sophistication. Inspired by nature’s effortless balance of form and beauty, she creates evocative paintings and hand-built ceramics that elevate everyday environments with intention, refinement, and a deeply personal touch.

Her journey began over two decades ago with whimsical murals for her children’s nurseries—a creative spark that blossomed into commissioned works, fine art exhibitions, and a passion for ceramics. Though she earned a B.A. in Studio Art from Rhode Island College, Carla devoted 25 years to a career in technology before returning fully to her roots in 2018 to found Carla Thomson Art—a space dedicated to craftsmanship, storytelling, and visual poetry.

Carla’s paintings explore the striking simplicity of floral studies and moody, atmospheric landscapes, using light and texture to create immersive visual experiences. Her ceramic works echo these themes—each piece shaped by impressions of buds, vines, and stone—offering tactile, sculptural beauty that draws directly from the natural world. Whether it’s a delicate porcelain vessel or an oil painting rich with emotion, her work invites collectors to surround themselves with meaningful, heirloom-quality art.

Sought after by collectors who appreciate craftsmanship, exclusivity, and quiet luxury, Carla’s work is held in private collections across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia. Every piece she creates is a celebration of form, feeling, and the subtle beauty of the present moment.

Outside the studio, Carla finds joy in the art of fine living. Deeply inspired by European history, architecture, and artisan culture, she frequents museums both grand and intimate—from The Met and the Philadelphia Museum of Art to the Florence Griswold Museum and the RISD Museum near her home in Rhode Island. She is drawn to curated experiences: Italian cuisine, a glass of Cabernet from Bordeaux, coastal walks, and the serendipity of discovery in local markets—all of which shape her work with a sense of elegance, story, and place.

Notable Highlights

Education

  • B.A. in Studio Art (Graphic Design & Photography) – Rhode Island College, 1991

Selected Exhibitions & Public Art

  • 2025: RISCA for RI Department of Labor and Training, Cranston, RI

  • 2025: Art Newport Fine Arts Show, Newport Artists Collective, RI

  • 2024: New Works (Three-Person Exhibit), Providence Art Club, RI

  • 2024: Public Art Installation, Hope Health RI, RI Public Art Works

  • 2024: Public Art Installation, Women & Infants, Providence, RI

  • 2024: Big Pictures Show, Winter Members Exhibit, Fall Members Exhibit – Providence Art Club, RI

  • 2023: Up Close & Personal, Wickford Art Association, RI

  • 2023: Community Matters, Art League RI, Pawtucket, RI

  • 2023: RISCA Art Exhibit & Sale, RI Home Show

  • 2017: Landscapes, Real or Imagined, Wickford Art Association, RI

  • 2016: Studio of Her Own, Lyn Art Gallery, Smithfield, RI

  • 2016: Fakes & Forgeries, Spring Bull Gallery, Newport, RI

Juried Shows

  • Wickford Art Festival, Wickford, RI – 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2019, 2018

  • Annual Spring Lenox Art Walk, Lenox, MA – 2024

  • Virtu Art Festival, Westerly, RI – 2024

  • Glastonbury On the Green Art Festival, CT – 2023

  • Narragansett Art Festival, RI – 2023, 2021, 2019

  • Creative Arts Festival, Chatham, MA – 2022, 2021

  • Roseland Cottage Fine Arts Festival, Woodstock, CT – 2022, 2019

  • Paradise City Arts Festival, MA – 2019 (Fully Engaged), 2018 (Pattern Play)

Recognition & Awards

  • 2024: Accepted as an Exhibiting Artist Member – Providence Art Club

  • 2019: Award of Excellence – Manhattan Arts International

  • 2016: Finalist, Richeson75 International Still Life & Floral

  • 2016: Best in Show, Studio of Her Own – Lyn Art Gallery, RI

Collections

Carla’s work is held in private collections across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia, including notable locations in:

  • Baton Rouge, LA – 2024

  • Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany – 2024

  • Sooke, Canada – 2024

  • Olympia, WA – 2023

  • The Netherlands – 2022

  • Edinburgh, UK – 2021

  • Hong Kong – 2020

  • France – 2019

  • Albuquerque, NM – 2018

  • Alexandria, VA – 2017

  • Providence, RI – 2016

  • Houston, TX – 2015

  • Los Angeles, CA – 2014

  • Lexington, KY – 2012

 

 

Email carlathomson@carlathomson.com