If you’ve ever met Rhomie Thompson, you know pretty quickly—this is someone who genuinely loves what he does. And after more than 20 years of working in clay and glass, that enthusiasm hasn’t dimmed one bit. If anything, it’s gotten bigger, bolder, and a little more mischievous (in the best way).

A ceramic sculptor, painter, and designer, Rhomie creates work that feels alive. His pieces are layered with texture, movement, and vibrant color, often pulling you in with a sense of curiosity—like there’s a story just beneath the surface. There’s a playful quality to his work that reflects his personality: open, energetic, and always ready to explore the next idea.

Since 2020, Rhomie has been collaborating with artist Subrina Lorenzo, and together they’ve built something pretty special. As Artists and Curators of Gallery 654 along Gallery Row in downtown Fresno, the two have developed a creative rhythm that turns imagination into large-scale, mixed media sculpture. Their work combines clay, repurposed wood, metal, and found materials into one-of-a-kind pieces designed for both indoor and outdoor spaces.

Their process is part conversation, part experimentation, and part “let’s see what happens if we try this.” Rhomie begins each piece by building ceramic forms that are anything but static—he pushes texture, plays with glaze, and creates surfaces that feel full of motion and life. Then Subrina steps in, cutting, welding, acid washing, and assembling the various elements into bold, dimensional sculptures. The result is a seamless fusion of their skills—organic meets industrial, structure meets spontaneity.

Together, they’ve created a world filled with whimsical animals, expressive fish, radiant suns, and dreamy moons—pieces that feel equally at home in a garden, a living space, or as the unexpected conversation starter you didn’t know you needed.

But what really sets Rhomie apart is the spirit behind the work. He creates from a place of joy, curiosity, and connection—and that energy is contagious. Whether he’s in the studio, collaborating, or just talking about ideas, there’s a sense that for Rhomie, making art isn’t just what he does—it’s how he moves through the world.

We’re so happy to spotlight Rhomie this month and celebrate the creativity, collaboration, and unmistakable warmth he brings to the SJCGA community.