The Heirloom Podcast: Painting Home Town with Adam Trest
The one where Josh & Jim get... creative!
In episode six of The Heirloom Podcast, we sit down with our good friend and one of Laurel’s most beloved artists, Adam Trest. From murals in the park to dinnerware from Portugal, Adam’s art has quietly woven itself into the fabric of our town—and far beyond.
But this isn’t just a conversation about painting. It’s about building a life of meaning through creative work, and how a small town believing in you, can turn sketches into legacies that feed families.
On this episode, Jim and I talk with Adam about everything from Walter Anderson’s hidden cat sculpture to the messy beauty of raising kids while trying to create. He offers a unique perspective on what it means to leave a mark that others will treasure.
You’ll hear:
- Why Laurel became a surprising launchpad for a national art career
- How the Lauren Rogers Museum inspired Adam’s work
- How sketchbooks—and storyboards—can spark real legacy
- Why creativity needs community to flourish
- What it means for an artist to “let go” of their work and let it live in someone else’s story
As Adam puts it: “My work isn’t mine anymore—it belongs to the people who bring it into their homes.”
Whether it’s a $20 print or a one-of-a-kind painting, every piece becomes a quiet companion in nurseries, dining rooms, and homes across the country. It’s inspiring to consider how much life unfolds in the warm glow of these beautiful creations.
At The Heirloom, we explore legacy from all angles—and this episode reminds us that it rarely starts with a masterpiece. Most often, it begins as a rough sketch in a notebook that doesn’t look like much.
– Josh Nowell
Y'all just never know what these two will be up to! We might always say this, but you don't want to miss this one y'all.
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Filmed at The Heirloom in Laurel, Mississippi - Season 1, Episode 6 - theheirloom.us
