The University of Memphis is bringing a tradition back to campus which honors leadership from its past and present through art.
The presidential portraits which have been a longtime tradition for the University in which presidents of the University sat for a commissioned painted portrait took a hiatus more than 10 years ago.
“When I arrived in 2024, I noticed that the tradition was a little behind. It became really important to me to ensure that they were all represented on our wall,” said Michele Ehrhart, senior vice president and chief marketing and communications officer.
Now, Memphis-based artist Jason Colbert, founder and owner of Life In Colors Studio, has helped continue the legacy of honoring University leadership through artistry. Colbert was commissioned to paint presidential portraits of current UofM President Dr. Bill Hardgrave and past presidents Dr. M. David Rudd (2014–21) and Richard C. Jones (1939-43).
The portraits were unveiled during a ceremony on Oct. 27.
Photo by Matthew A. Smith/The University of Memphis
“There is something powerful about art’s ability to restore what history left unfinished,” Colbert said when documenting his journey in painting UofM past president Jones’ portrait using only a small black and white photograph.
Colbert spent three months working on the portraits and put extensive research into the subjects he was painting.
“One thing about painting people, you want to capture their essence per se. Capture their personality,” Colbert said. “Try to do as much research as you possibly can about the person, and that’s pretty much what I did to paint them. It was very intimidating. Every brushstroke was deliberate.”
The event brought together Jones’ granddaughters, Ellen Ray and Theresa Stojan. Both travelled to Memphis to attend the event and unveiling of their grandfather’s portrait. Jones served as the fourth president of the West Tennessee State Teachers College (which was changed to Memphis State College in 1941). Jones took office after the death of John Willard Brister and was in office during World War II and was among the past presidents of the institution who never had a portrait commissioned.
Photo by Matthew A. Smith/The University of Memphis
“It’s him, and he’s beautiful,” said Stojan who travelled from Texas to attend the event when she saw her grandfather’s portrait. “God, it doesn’t matter where you are; he’s looking at you.”
Ray echoed her sentiments saying, “It’s beautiful. It really does capture him. You would know that was Papa.”
UofM Past President Dr. Shirley Raines (2001–13), who was the first female president for the University was the last commissioned painted portrait before the completion of the most recent three.
“The thing that made me smile the most was I was taking over for an already established artist,” Colbert said. Past portraits were painted by acclaimed portrait artist Jamie Lee McMahan. “The University entrusted someone like me to add on to their legacy, and I was just blown away. The fact that I have the opportunity to do something like that for a major university was just mind blowing. I could barely process it.”
Colbert began practicing art at a young age, pursuing it seriously at the age of 17. He studied painting with a minor in art history at the Memphis College of Art. He specializes in oil painting but is also trained in watercolor, acrylic, wash and ink. His current artistic style and technique is a signature style he calls “colorism” where he uses bold brushstrokes and vibrant colors to evoke feelings through his art.
“I want to convey a better life and that’s why the name of my studio is Life in Colors Studio,” Colbert said. “We live around a lot of vibrant colors, but in this state of the world, we’re kind of in a black and white type of state. So, with Life in Colors Studio, it’s to bring life to the colorless. Well, life to the dead, color to the colorless, and just wakes up that passion that people have.”
Photo by Matthew A. Smith/The University of Memphis
The main themes his art focuses on is unity, love and passion.
“Art has brought me so much joy because art was there when I had my depression moments, anxiety, trying to escape reality. So, it went from using it as a tool to get out of my depression, to now, I’m kind of being able to help other people do the same thing,” Colbert said.
When he first started in art, Colbert said, “Art wasn’t taken seriously back in the day. Like now, it’s taken seriously. Art is seen as an essential part of the city, but back when I was in high school, I was considered you know weird, the geek, the nerd. People could never come up with a name. But the most beautiful thing about Memphis is our diversity, our colors, our themes, and the fact that we know how to adapt.
Current projects on the horizon for Colbert is his series called “Blossoming in the Dark” which showcases the spirit of African American women through strength and beauty versus exposure.
Colbert has notable paintings in the area, four of which are at the Renasant Convention Center in Downtown Memphis: DNA: The Soul of Memphis, Mother Memphian, and The Blue Pharoah, and Colors of Memphis.
Although he has no ties to the University of Memphis, Colbert said that him being chosen to continue the tradition of painting the presidential portraits made it even more special.
“I want young artists to look at my artwork and say, ‘Hey, if this Black artist from Memphis, Tenn., could do a portrait for a humongous university — so can I,” Colbert said. “I didn’t graduate from there. Never went there. And they reached out to someone like me and asked me to do a painting for them. So that is an amazing honor. And like I said, I want every young artist to see that and say I can do the same thing.”
And in a few days, another tradition will return to the McWherter Library where the portrait by Colbert of current President Hardgrave will be hung.
