Geoffrey Thomas is a PhD student primarily interested in modern French art, especially in the years surrounding the transition from the nineteenth century to the twentieth century, working with the mentorship of Professor Dorothy Johnson. His research ideas reside in two major areas. First, he looks to investigate the relationships among artists from the fin de siècle who identified as both academicians and avant-gardistes and to focus on points of cultural commonality between members of the two groups that are typically framed as diametrically opposed. Second, he explores concurrent developments in the visual arts and the sciences, particularly the physical sciences.

Geoffrey is a native of South Carolina, having graduated with the BA in art history and the BS in biology, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from Wofford College, where he was inspired by the art historical teaching of Professor Peter Schmunk. He earned his MA in art history at the University of South Carolina, working as an advisee of Professor Andrew Graciano, where he wrote his MA thesis, "Visions for the Viewer: the Influence of Two Unique Easel Paintings on the Late Murals of Pierre Puvis de Chavannes."

Geoffrey had a previous career as a secondary science and art-history teacher, having worked in various schools in South Carolina and Mississippi, before deciding to pursue his doctoral degree. He also proudly coached a competitive high-school quizbowl team that finished as high as fourth in national championships, and he directed summer camps focused on teaching quizbowl players content and strategy relevant to the activity, as well as the middle-school version of the National History Bee.

In addition to his studies, Geoffrey is fortunate to serve as a graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Rhetoric at the University of Iowa.

Research interests

• Modern French Art, Art and Science