Art Exhibitions | Mobile Arts Council

Drawing Conclusions showcases both new and seasoned works by Derek Norman, an internationally recognized botanical artist, illustrator, and educator. Norman’s exhibition highlights the delicate precision and meditative beauty of botanical drawing, tracing his evolution from commercial art and design to a full-time vocation in fine art. Born and educated in England, Norman’s professional career spanned advertising, television, and education with J. Walter Thompson (London & Chicago), Leo Burnett (Chicago), and the Chicago Botanic Garden. His botanical artworks are represented in major collections, including the Royal Horticultural Society (London), the Library of Congress, the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, and the British Museum. Norman is a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London, founder and past President of the American Society of Botanical Artists, and recipient of numerous awards, including the ASBA James White Award for Dedication to Botanical Art. He currently teaches at the Mobile Botanical Gardens.

The Healing Point , presented by Tyrome “Ty” Tover, explores the transformative power of healing and self-expression through vibrant, emotion inspired colors. A native of Mobile, Tover is a contemporary expressionist painter whose work celebrates empowerment, resilience, and the light that emerges from the healing process. Tover’s artistry has been deeply intertwined with his work as a Peer Mentor with the Mobile County Health Department, where he uses art as a therapeutic and community wellness tool. His guided art sessions, designed as part of HIV intervention programs, have been recognized by the World Health Organization and continue to expand through new grant-funded initiatives. In addition to his artistic practice, Tover’s background includes choreography, performance, and arts advocacy, with experience serving on creative boards such as the Anaheim Museum of Arts and the Boys & Girls Club of Anaheim (sponsored by Disney). His artwork has been featured in multiple Mobile Arts Council exhibitions, including A Celebration of Black Artists, and he recently competed in Mobile Arts Council’s 13th Throwdown!