If you're waiting for a reason to get indoors today in Austin (83°F, a little muggy, light rain possible), here it is: Reji Thomas' "Restoration" has quietly become the fall exhibition to see. It's an impeccably timed Veterans Month spotlight on a pioneering American glass artist and Air Force veteran whose fingerprints are literally etched into Texas history.

Note

This guide focuses on the November 1, 2025 – January 3, 2026 run of "Restoration." Always confirm dates and hours on the official Old Bakery & Emporium site before you go.

Why Reji Thomas matters

  • A self-made trailblazer: Born in Los Angeles and raised on her grandparents' farm in Evergreen, Alabama, Rejina (Reji) Thomas sold her first painting at 15, then trained as a medic in the Air Force. That clinical precision carried into her art—she learned to create ultra-fine images on glass using a diamond dental drill. For a richer bio and portfolio, browse her official site.
  • Master of glass craft: A graduate of the International Pilchuck School of Glass in Seattle, Thomas moved to Austin in the late 1970s and built a career that merges technical mastery with narrative depth. You can see how institutions frame her technique in her Austin Convention Center artist profile.
  • Texas-scale achievement: In 1995, she led a monumental restoration of 600 glass panels at the Texas Capitol—one of the state's great conservation feats, documented through the Texas State Preservation Board.
  • Cultural reach: Her work has been collected by Ann Richards, Barbara Jordan, B.B. King, and Steven Spielberg, and she has created diplomatic gifts presented to the President of Mexico and Queen Elizabeth. For an at-a-glance overview of her public impact, see her Wikipedia entry.
  • Community builder: Thomas founded Graphic Glass Studios Inc. and later launched Pine Street Station (2009), a creative community space spotlighted in this Eastside ATX feature on her East Austin hub. She's been profiled by the Austin Chronicle and received a retrospective at the George Washington Carver Museum in 2017.

Exhibition snapshot

  • Title: "Restoration"
  • Dates: November 1, 2025 – January 3, 2026
  • Venue: Old Bakery & Emporium Fine Art Gallery (Austin)
  • Themes: Restoration, renewal, metaphorical repair and reconstruction—how damage becomes design, and history becomes material for the next chapter.
  • Techniques on view: Double-acid etching, glass engraving, mixed media—an unusually rich window into Thomas' technical range. For more examples of how she deploys symbols and surface in historic spaces, check out the "Signs and Symbols" installation at Neill-Cochran House Museum.
"

Glass remembers everything you do to it—but that’s where the beauty of restoration lives.

Reji Thomas (implied ethos)

What "Restoration" is really about
Thomas' exhibition uses the language of conservation—repair, etch, engrave, rebuild—to talk about lives and communities. Expect works where surfaces appear to be healed rather than hidden, where the evidence of past stress becomes a design feature. The double-acid etching process is critical here: controlled masks and repeated acid baths create relief and depth; hand engraving sharpens the narrative. The result is glass that reads like palimpsest—layers of time, choices, and care; if you want to zoom out on her evolution and process, her Weebly archive of early work adds useful context.

Insider intelligence: see it like a pro

  • Read the glass at an angle: Step a foot or two to either side so light skims the surface. You'll see the difference between raised (cameo) areas from acid etch and incised (intaglio) lines from engraving.
  • Look for "micro-lines": Thomas' Air Force medic background shows up in the precision of her line work. Where lines tighten and cluster, you're likely seeing the influence of her diamond dental-drill training; the Latinitas Magazine profile offers a personal window into how that discipline shaped her.
  • Decode the "double" in double-acid: Many pieces will have a primary etch for broad forms and a secondary, deeper etch that creates shadow and relief. Once you spot it, the compositions snap into focus.
  • Veterans Month lens: November adds resonance. Thomas turned technical rigor and service experience into a studio language about care and resilience. Consider how "repair" functions both materially (etch/engrave) and conceptually (heal/restore).
  • Connect the dots to the Capitol: The Texas Capitol restoration trained a generation's eye on the ethics of repair. In "Restoration," look for motifs—borderwork, architectural patterning, repeating rosettes—that echo conservation thinking: document, stabilize, reveal; the State Preservation Board site is a good primer on that conservation mindset.
  • Best times to visit: Weekday late mornings often mean calmer galleries and soft ambient light—ideal for glass. With today's light rain chance, it's perfect indoor-gallery weather. Check the official Old Bakery & Emporium page for hours before you go, then build a culture-forward day with another stop like the Harry Ransom Center.
  • Photo tip: Glass loves reflections. If you photograph, move off-axis and let the etched relief cast a shallow shadow; ask staff for their photography policy first.
Pro Tip

If you care most about seeing fine detail in the etching, aim for mid-morning or late afternoon on a bright but overcast day—soft light makes raised and incised lines much easier to read.

Essential info at a glance

  • What: "Restoration" by Reji Thomas (glass etching, engraving, mixed media)
  • Where: Old Bakery & Emporium Fine Art Gallery (City of Austin facility)
  • When: Nov 1, 2025 – Jan 3, 2026
  • Why go now: Veterans Month context, rare chance to study double-acid etching up close, and a direct line to one of Texas' most significant glass restorers. For a broader sense of her civic and public art footprint, the Austin Convention Center artist page is a quick read.
  • Good to know: Indoor, climate-controlled; verify hours, parking, and any holiday closures via the official site below.

Make it an Austin day (curated reads and eats)

Why it matters right now
Glass is having a moment in Austin, but Thomas has been leading from the front for decades—bridging studio innovation, cultural stewardship, and civic restoration. "Restoration" is a live lesson in how technical mastery becomes storytelling, and how an artist's service background can evolve into a distinctive visual ethics of care; the Carver Museum retrospective and her official portfolio together chart that arc beautifully.

Check official sources and plan your visit

  • Old Bakery & Emporium (City of Austin) — exhibition venue, hours, and visitor details: https://www.austintexas.gov/department/old-bakery-and-emporium
  • George Washington Carver Museum (City of Austin) — context on Thomas' 2017 retrospective: https://www.austintexas.gov/department/george-washington-carver-museum-and-cultural-center
  • Texas State Preservation Board — background on Texas Capitol conservation: https://tspb.texas.gov/

Pro tip for today's weather
Light rain in the forecast and 69% humidity means reflections can be extra lively when you walk in from outside. Bring a small umbrella, wipe your glasses at the door, and give your eyes a minute to adjust before you start reading the etched surfaces. If you decide to extend the day after your museum time, you can lean into the cozy-weather vibe with a covered pint at Scholz Garten + Saengerrunde or a creative-community detour at The Cathedral Austin.