Veda Reed

born 1938 Granite, OK, died 2025 Memphis

Alpha and Omega

2011

oil on canvas

in memory of Thomas F. Johnston

Veda Reed is widely revered for her luminous, large-scale paintings of skies, cloudscapes, and the cycles of the sun and moon. Inspired by her childhood in the wide-open spaces of Oklahoma, her works capture moments of warmth and comfort she experienced while witnessing nature. Working in isolation and silence, her studio practice reflected the flow of the atmospheres she depicted – methodically reducing images to their essential forms and then amplifying their presence through selective composition, brilliant palettes, and a painstaking process of layering pigment and glaze. Her incredibly smooth, seamless surfaces create perceptual effects ranging from a subtle, vibrating glow to pure radiance. For Reed, the act of painting was itself a spiritual journey toward truth and beauty and a celebration of cycles of renewal.

Reed moved to Memphis in 1952 when she enrolled at the Memphis Art Academy. After travels and post-graduate studies, she began her long career as a faculty member and dean at her alma mater, later named Memphis College of Art. She was not just a beloved instructor and mentor, but also an active studio artist with a lengthy exhibition list that includes major museums and galleries across the country. Along the way, she received many awards and honors, including the inestimable Tennessee Governor’s Award in the Arts in 1996.