Lone Star College–Montgomery Art Department Presents: “Finding the Whole through the Part” by Dr. Rebecca Riley

CONROE, TX -- The Lone Star College–Montgomery Art Department is proud to present an exclusive exhibition by Dr. Rebecca Riley, the college’s fourth president and a lifelong artist. Her solo show, Finding the Whole through the Part, opened this October in the Mary Matteson-Parrish Art Gallery, with a special guest reception being held on October 15 from 1–2 p.m. on the LSC–Montgomery campus.

The exhibit features over 19 original works, ranging from large-scale watercolors to intricate mixed media boxes and screenprints. All pieces will be available for viewing and for purchase by those who wish to take a piece of the experience home.

Dr. Riley’s collection explores the philosophical and visual idea that every part reflects a greater whole. “As a long-time meditator,” she explains, “I’ve come to see how everything is connected, even when the world tries to convince us otherwise.”

Her inspiration for the exhibit came after retirement, when she began experimenting with watercolor techniques she hadn’t yet mastered. The result is a series of visual echoes: detailed fragments of nature paired with expansive landscapes, each inviting viewers to contemplate the relationship between scale, abstraction, and meaning.

When asked how she knows a piece is finished, Dr. Riley states, “It’s a gut feeling. If it nags at me, it’s not done. There’s a balance, contrast, color, sharpness, that tells me when it’s complete.”

One standout piece, Autumn Song, captures a simple slice of ground in fall. “It’s just the most ordinary thing,” she says, “made significant through contemplative observation and scale.”

Dr. Riley’s creative journey spans decades, including a career in music, teaching, and higher education leadership. “Art has always been there,” she reflects. “Even when administration took center stage, I never stopped thinking like an artist.”

Visitors to the gallery will not only experience her visual work but also glimpse the contemplative practice behind it, a quiet, deliberate process that invites imagination and introspection.

Lone Star College–Montgomery is excited to celebrate Dr. Riley’s guest exhibition here on campus. Her artistry and leadership have made a lasting impact on our community, and we are honored to host her work. The exhibition will run throughout October.

For more information, visit the LSC–Montgomery Art Department website or follow @marymattesonparrishartgallery on social media.