As the leaves change and students return to Eugene for yet another eventful school year, the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art on campus has carefully curated a new exhibition. Entitled “James Lavadour: Land of Origin,” the exhibition showcases Lavadour’s colorful landscape paintings across five decades. The paintings feature Lavadour’s natural surroundings throughout his artistic career, specifically the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Eastern Oregon.
Held from Aug. 9, to Jan. 11, 2026, the exhibition is a refreshing change right on campus for students and community members to visit. The paintings go beyond traditional landscape art, expressing the changes of the natural landscape over the years brightly and boldly. Leaning more abstract, the art evokes a sense of Lavadour’s connection to the land around him throughout his artistic career. Using oil paints, Lavadour brings the natural environment of Eastern Oregon to life.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of events and workshops, encouraging visitors to reflect on the art and even create similar pieces themselves. On Oct. 19, the museum will hold an artist talk with James Lavadour. During the talk, viewers can learn more about his creative process and journey as a self-taught artist. This event is open to both students and Eugene residents.
Additionally, the museum will hold a free-to-attend workshop for University of Oregon students on Oct. 22. The event will begin with a guided tour through the exhibition, encouraging students to decompress from their busy schedules and reflect on the art in front of them, accompanied by mindfulness exercises. Next, students will visit the JSMA’s art studio and create their own landscape painting, inspired by both Lavadour’s pieces and their own connections to the natural landscape.
The workshop event is a great, free resource for students looking to take a break from their studies and immerse themselves in creativity for a bit. Museum Communication Assistant Alexandra Gillette said the event is essential to the campus community because they provide a place of reprieve and reflection for students experiencing overwhelm or burnout.
“This exhibit specifically is a great opportunity for students to slow down. Life can get crazy and busy, but we are truly blessed to be surrounded by such beauty, here in Oregon,” Gillette said. “I think the paintings are a beautiful reminder to take in the world around us and be more actively aware of the nature that surrounds us.”
According to Gillette, Lavadour’s paintings express a core value for him: we are all a part of the land, and everything goes back to the land. The exhibition is not only a place of beauty and artistic value, but also a reminder of a lesson that can be easily forgotten.
Inspired by the sunrises and sunsets he witnessed throughout his artistic career, Lavadour’s work reminds us to stay grounded and take in the natural world around us as it continues to change.
