LSU Museum of Art (LSU MOA) in Baton Rouge, LA is pleased to open a special permanent collection exhibition spotlighting recent acquisitions of works by Black artists on March 28. On view for the first time at LSU MOA will be works by Radcliffe Bailey, Whitfield Lovell, Madelyn Sneed-Grays, Mario Moore, and Gordon Parks, among other recently acquired works.

One work featured is a self-portrait titled Two Strikes by artist Madelyn Sneed-Grays. Sneed-Grays created this work in response to rarely seeing herself in artistic spaces. “Do you know what that means when a human being has two strikes? Well, let me inform you. I am black and I am a woman. Studies show that women make up just 2% of the art market and that, “artists in 18 major U.S. museums are 85% white and 87% male.” The fact that I rarely saw myself in artistic spaces that were, and still are, predominantly white is what fueled my perfectionistic ways to make certain I represent for my culture. This is what made me realize growing up, that 100% wasn’t enough and 110% was imperative. This is what made me how I am. I am black and I am a woman.”

Other works include Cada Dia by Whitfield Lovell which combines drawn figures from found images of African Americans with found objects to create a dialogue that evokes a larger history or experience, and Mario Moore’s During and After the Battle, an oil painting that addresses the timeline and presence of racial oppression and social issues from its Civil War battle scene in the background to its contemporary model in the foreground. LSU MOA will have virtual programs this summer on Zoom with artists featured for the public to learn more about their works.

These acquisitions were made possible by The Winifred and Kevin P. Reilly Initiative for Underrepresented Artists. The Winifred and Kevin P. Reilly Initiative for Underrepresented Artists supports growth of LSU Museum of Art’s permanent collection by funding acquisitions of works by Black, Indigenous, and Latinx artists, including those of marginalized sexualities, gender identities, and communities. The 500K initiative, which will continue through 2021, focused on acquiring works by Black artists in 2020.

In addition to the Winifred and Kevin Reilly Initiative for Underrepresented Artists, Collection Spotlight: Recent Acquisitions by Black Artists is supported by the generous donors to the LSU MOA Annual Exhibition Fund: Louisiana CAT; The Imo N. Brown Memorial Fund in memory of Heidel Brown and Mary Ann Brown; The Alma Lee, H.N., and Cary Saurage Fund; LSU College of Art + Design; Mr. and Mrs. Sanford A. Arst; and The Newton B. Thomas Family/Newtron Group Fund.

On view at LSU Museum of Art: March 28 – September 26, 2021

LSU MOA Programming: A virtual gallery talk about the exhibition will occur on Zoom Sunday, March 28 at 2 p.m. with LSU MOA Curator Courtney Taylor. Free to attend. Register at www.lsumoa.org. LSU MOA will also have virtual programs this summer on Zoom with artists featured for the public to learn more about their works.

ABOUT LSU MUSEUM OF ART

LSU Museum of Art seeks to enrich and inspire through collections, exhibitions, conservation, and education, serving as a cultural and intellectual resource for the University, Baton Rouge, and beyond.

LSU Museum of Art is supported in part by a grant from the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, funded by the East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President and Metro Council. Additional support is provided by generous donors to the Annual Exhibition Fund, members, and community partners. Supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council. Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support provided by Art Bridges. Thank you to the following sponsors of Free Friday Nights and Free First Sundays at LSU MOA: Louisiana Lottery Corporation and IBERIABANK, a division of First Horizon, for sponsoring free admission and Louisiana CAT for sponsoring programming.

VISITOR INFORMATION

The museum is located in downtown Baton Rouge at 100 Lafayette Street on the Fifth Floor of the Shaw Center for the Arts. General admission is $5 each for adults and children age 13 and over. Admission is free to university faculty and students with ID, children age 12 and under, and museum members. Active duty military members, first responders, and their families receive free admission with ID as part of the Blue Star Museums program. Masks are required during museum visitation and LSU MOA no-touch digital gallery resources can be accessed here: www.lsumoa.org/digital Museum Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday and Friday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday 1-5 p.m.; and closed on Mondays and major holidays. Free admission occurs on the first Sunday of each month and every Friday night from 5-8 p.m. For more information: visit www.lsumoa.org, call 225-389-7200, and follow the museum on social media @lsumoa for exhibition and program updates.

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