UWG’s Lollis Recognized for Book Arts Practice 

For the University of West Georgia’s Cynthia Lollis, books are more than vessels for words; they are objects, experiences and spaces for experimentation. This approach has earned her national recognition as one of Georgia’s Women to Watch.

The Georgia Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts named Lollis, an instructor of art in printmaking and foundations, as one of its Women to Watch and selected her work to be featured in “Women to Watch 2026: A Book Arts Revolution,” opening Feb. 1 at Atlanta Contemporary. The exhibition highlights five Georgia artists whose work expands contemporary definitions of book arts.  

For Lollis, the recognition affirms both her artistic practice and the growing visibility of a medium that often exists outside traditional gallery spaces.  

“Book arts is something so dear to my heart, but it’s a medium you often have to explain,” Lollis said. “So that’s why it’s amazing to me that this is a show that somebody was interested in and sought out. People want to see this outside of a library situation.” 

The Women to Watch program is organized through the National Museum of Women in the Arts and its network of regional committees. Every two years, committees nominate artists from their region for a themed exhibition. For the 2026 cycle, that theme is book arts, a focus Lollis describes as especially meaningful.  

When she learned she would be included, Lollis said she felt immediate excitement, though she is quick to point out that her work is not created alone.  

While the recognition bears her name, she emphasizes that the work itself reflects a shared creative process developed over many years with German artist Daniela Deeg.  

“I work collaboratively, so all my work is done with others, so I had the opportunity to be excited with someone else,” Lollis said. “It really feels like ‘us.’” 

Lollis works primarily in book arts, a discipline that blends printmaking, structure, material and storytelling. Rather than fitting into a single category, she describes the field as expansive and fluid. 

“It’s not a gallery of an artist’s work,” she said. “It is an artwork in itself.” 

Book arts can range from sculptural forms to finely printed editions, often combining two- and three-dimensional elements. The process requires extensive planning, experimentation and problem-solving.  

“It’s 2D, it’s 3D, and it takes a lot of planning,” Lollis said. “The real satisfaction is when it all comes together.” 

Her path to the medium began through mentorship during her early education. 

“I think probably mentorship first,” she said. “I wouldn’t have known what book arts was until I was in art school, and my professors were making it, so it seemed so natural to do it.” 

The work Lollis will present in "Women to Watch 2026: A Book Arts Revolution” reflects an ongoing interest in place, movement and discovery. Developed over time, the books evolved through conversation, travel and revisiting ideas as circumstances changed.  

Each finished piece represents one outcome among many possibilities, and she looks forward to seeing how the curator brings the selected works together into a cohesive narrative.  

In addition to her studio practice, Lollis is deeply invested in teaching and mentorship. She views the classroom as a collaborative environment where learning flows in both directions.  

“I’m learning with them for sure,” she expresses. “It’s always been a two-way street.” 

“Women to Watch 2026: A Book Arts Revolution” opens Feb. 1 at Atlanta Contemporary. More information about the exhibition will be available closer to the opening date.