The Sculpture of Scott, Payton, Hayden, and Bechet
On view October 9, 2025–January 25, 2026

They were friends, mentors, and muses. They were pivotal figures in the modern art movement emerging from the southeastern part of Louisiana. They were dedicated scholars and educators. Four men, Frank Hayden, John T. Scott, Martin Payton, and Ron Bechet—artists intertwined through a series of experiences that played out over five decades. They share a common artistic language—an exploration of Black heritage imbued with private symbolism, expression, and inspiration. Hayden reflects on his deep spiritual awareness, and reverence for faith, family, and Civil Rights. Scott’s work echoes the sights and sounds of his beloved New Orleans and his Caribbean legacy. Payton reclaims scrap metal, fabricating improvised compositions of rhythmic forms tangled with African symbolism. Bechet’s lyrical works investigate the delicacy of nature and the human experience, instilled with personal connections to the heritage of place.

Frank Hayden (1935–1988), a Memphis native, studied at Xavier University before earning degrees at Notre Dame and Iowa State, later becoming a longtime faculty member at Southern University in Baton Rouge. At Xavier in the 1950s, Hayden was mentored by Numa Rousseve and Sister Mary Lurana Neely—teachers who also deeply influenced John T. Scott (1940–2007), who returned to Xavier to teach after earning his MFA. Scott inspired Martin Payton (b. 1948), who studied at Xavier and later at Otis Art Institute before succeeding Hayden at Southern University in 1990. Scott and Payton remained close collaborators, completing major projects like Spirit House in 2006. Ron Bechet (b. 1956) first met Scott at the University of New Orleans and, after Yale, taught alongside him at Xavier, where they shared a studio and deep friendship until Hurricane Katrina displaced Scott in 2005; Bechet continues to teach at Xavier today.

This exhibition highlights the sculptural works of these four modern masters. Although individually they have their own artistic voice, they share the bonds of kinship—with each learning and gleaning inspiration from one another. This exhibit is sponsored by Winifred and Kevin P. Reilly.

AI: Artistic Interpretations, Studio Art Quilt Associates

on view February 5–May 10, 2026

Delves into the imaginative possibilities that arise when artists embrace the data-driven era, using artificial intelligence (AI) as a catalyst for innovation in fiber art. This exhibition is curated by LSUMOA Chief Curator, Michelle Schulte, LSU Professor Golden Richard (Computer Science and Engineering), and LSU Associate Professor Brendan Harmon (Landscape Architecture) and managed by Studio Art Quilt Associates. It will travel to museums across the country for two additional years.

Daphnis and Chloe and Other Lovers: Lithographs by Marc Chagall

on view February 12–May 24, 2026

Organized by Carole Sorell, Inc. / Curated by David S. Rubin
Presented with generous support from the Park West Foundation

The LSU Museum of Art presents Marc Chagall: Lovers and Daphnis & Chloe, an exhibition of fifty lithographs by one of the most celebrated artists of the twentieth century. Chagall was a prolific printmaker, producing more than 1,000 lithographs and 500 etchings over his career. On view are his complete 1961 portfolio Daphnis and Chloe, inspired by the ancient Greek romance of two abandoned children whose journey through trials leads to the discovery of love, as well as a selection of lithographs from the 1980s that feature anonymous lovers in dreamlike embraces or holding bouquets of flowers.

Throughout his career, the theme of love—whether expressed in early depictions of Chagall and his wife Bella or in later portrayals of pastoral couples—remained central to his artistic vision. This exhibition highlights how Chagall transformed timeless narratives of devotion, longing, and joy into poetic imagery that continues to resonate today.