Gee’s Bend Quilt by Lucy Pettway-Witherspoon
June 17 – December 4, 2022
Each year since the spring of 2016, OUMA has devoted a gallery to new acquisitions. This year, we have installed three of our four galleries with collections treasures. In Skylight Gallery, there are several new works of art including the Gee’s Bend quilt (left) created by Alabama artist Lucy Pettway-Witherspoon, the painting “hey, slim” by Atlanta artist Shanequa Gay, and an SGA-commissioned quilt created by Atlanta/Los Angeles artist Kitara Ramsess. Each of these acquisitions supports the work of Black American contemporary artists and serves the museum’s commitment to reflecting the ethnic/racial composition of our highly diverse student body.
Many of our artists on view in Skylight are Atlanta’s own. They highlight the rich diversity of style and range from the cut tin angels of R.A. Miller to the monumental wood turned American beech bowl by Matt Moulthrop. The sculpture of Cuban American artist Alejandro Aguilera embodies his youth in Cuba and life in Atlanta combining images of Cuban artists and deities carved of wood and packed with red Georgia clay. Our Cuban collection speaks to OUMA’s commitment reflect our Hispanic/Latino community, and our support of students and families impacted by immigration.
We have installed one wall of Skylight to reflect OUMA’s commitment to greatly increased access and a celebration of disability culture with a series of pieces created by artists living and working with a difference in perception or ability (R.A. Miller living with glaucoma; Henri Matisse and Pierre Auguste Renoir with arthritis/limited mobility; Vito Bonanno with autism).
The Center Gallery is installed with a selection of prints, silk painting, and sculpture from our extensive Japanese collection with one our OUMA’s earliest acquisitions, a 14th century Amitabha Buddha acquired during the tenure of founding director Mr. Lloyd Nick. Hall Gallery is devoted to a series of etchings by French 19th century artist Gustave LeHeutre which were given to OUMA by Drs. Yolanta and Isaac Melamed. We are deeply indebted to our generous donors.