2023–2024
2023–2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S LETTER
Mark Tullos
Dear Members, Supporters, and Friends:
After 18 months in this role, I could not be more satisfied with our accomplishments and excited about the future of this 63-year-old museum and collection. This past year has celebrated art’s power to educate, inspire, and unite our community.
Through dynamic programming and a dedication to inclusivity, we engaged over 22,000 visitors and expanded access to new audiences. The $240,000 Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All grant enabled free admission days, special community programs, and extended opportunities for families and community group tours, touching the lives of over 1,500 attendees during free First Sunday programs.
This year, our exhibitions covered a broad spectrum of interests and diverse perspectives. From historically significant artistic movements to contemporary innovation, the LSU Museum of Art serves as a forum for art and ideas. The exhibitions One Stitch at a Time: Southern Vernacular Quilts honored the artistry of Gee’s Bend quilters and other Southern makers and Mirror Mirror by Daniel Rozin served to connect art and interactive technology to present day audiences. We shined a spotlight on diverse perspectives, from The Shaping of Us: Queerness in Ceramics, celebrating LGBTQ+ identities, to Andy Warhol / Friends & Frenemies, exploring cultural shifts through pop art. These exhibitions, enriched by partnerships with LSU and community organizations, underscored our commitment to representing the breadth of artistic voices.
We made significant strides in collections care and innovation, acquiring notable works by artists like Thornton Dial and Gordon Parks. A highlight of our year was the digitization project, which allowed visitors to virtually explore fragile objects like an 18th-century ivory basket. Moreover, storage upgrades prepared us for re-accreditation, ensuring the longevity of our growing collection.
Our educational initiatives also thrived, from Neighborhood Arts Project workshops that reached underserved communities to partnerships with LSU departments that fostered creativity and dialogue. Our panel discussions, artist talks, and school tour program expanded our outreach and enriched visitor experiences.
None of these achievements would have been possible without the unwavering support of our major stakeholders, members, and volunteers. Together, we’ve strengthened the museum as a cultural and intellectual resource for Baton Rouge and Louisiana. Thank you for your continued commitment to making art accessible and meaningful.
MISSION
The 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.
VISION
To invigorate, inspire, and educate the community of Baton Rouge through the arts.
TOTAL EXPENSES: $1,437,810.05
Payroll Expenses (44.3%)
Facilities (25.9%)
Public Relations (2.2%)
Exhibitions (6.1%)
Collections, Education, & Programs (9.7%)
Operating Supplies & Expenses (11.8%)
TOTAL REVENUES: $1,276,767.20 $685,127.38
$400,259.07 $33,675.75 $94,600.93 $150,325.99 $73,820.93
LSU Operating Support (35.4%)
Other State Support (0.5%)
Earned Revenues (21%)
Contributed Revenues (20.6%)
Grants & Other Income (22.4%) $452,458.63 $6,000 $268,558.44 $263,175.13 $286,575
164 LSU Museum of Art Memberships
3,894 Attended free museum experiences
>1,000 Neighborhood Arts Project artworks created
17,378 >59,000
People visited the museum from July 2023–June 2024
Unique Visitors to the LSUMOA Website Online
creating IMPACT
59 Acquisitions added to the collection
22,776 Followers on Facebook, Instagram, & X
1,880 Students from Pre-K – College visited the museum
12
45 Diverse exhibitions displayed at the museum Free programs including artist talks and more
The LSU Museum of Art thrives because of the generosity and vision of our supporters. Your donations—whether through gifts of art, planned giving, or legacy contributions—play a vital role in shaping our permanent collection and ensuring we remain a beacon of creativity and cultural education. Supporters like Winifred Ross Reilly, Nanette Bahlinger, and the late Charles E. Schwing have demonstrated the profound impact of giving, helping us reflect the diversity of our community, steward gifts with care, and inspire generations to come. Join us in preserving and growing the legacy of art at the LSU Museum of Art—your support truly makes a difference.
⊲ GIFTS OF ARTWORK
Kevin and I thought about how we could best support the museum, and decided to help balance its permanent collection to include art and artists that reflect our LSU and Baton Rouge cultural mix.
–Winifred Ross Reilly
Celebrate the legacy of Charles E. Schwing, a lifelong advocate for the arts, whose passion lives on through a generous $50,000 gift and the loan of three stunning paintings from his collection. Visit the Decorative Arts gallery to see works by Winslow Homer, James Abbott McNeill Whistler, and Gerald Festus Kelly, now on view at LSU Museum of Art.
⊲ LEGACY GIFTS THROUGH PLANNED GIVING
If you knew my Dad, you had to know if not experience his love for the Arts and their preservation! It was evident in everything he did from architecture to active support of the LSU Museum of Art through membership in its Endowment Society as well as being a lifetime member. His patronage continued to be evident in his inclusion of the museum in his estate planning.
–Terry Schwing, daughter of long time supporter of the LSU Museum of Art, Charles E. Schwing (1929-2024)
Winslow Homer (American, 1836-1910), Fishing off the Coast, n.d. Oil on canvas. Collection of the Estate of Charles Schwing.
The LSU Museum of Art has proven that they are excellent stewards of gifts given to the museum – monetary and works of art. Knowing this, when finalizing my own will, I made sure that my most valued works are left to the LSU Museum of Art. While creativity may be a natural human instinct, its meaning may change over time and may require cultivation to understand its context and relevance. LSU Museum of Art provides the setting for that cultivation for generations to come.
–Nanette Bahlinger
CONTRIBUTIONS BREAKDOWN
Interested in learning more about how your contributions can make a difference? Please contact Fairleigh Cook Jackson, Director of Development, at fjackson@lsufoundation.org.
AWARDS & EXHIBITION SUPPORT
The LSU Museum of Art received awards in the 2023 Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) Exhibition and Publication Competitions. The LSU Museum of Art received awards in the 2023 SEMC Publication Competition: I, Too, Am Thornton Dial Campaign received a Bronze Award in the Campaigns category and the Art Talk newsletter was awarded a Silver Award in the Magazines and Newsletters category. These projects were designed by LSU MOA Marketing and Communications Specialist Sarah Amacker.
I, Too, Am Thornton Dial Campaign included an enamel pin design, print advertisements, exhibition announcements, digital and billboard advertisements, Art Talk newsletter features, banners and signage, flyers, and other promotional materials including social media posts that marketed the exhibition during its time at LSUMOA. The Art Talk newsletter publication is printed quarterly to showcase current and upcoming exhibitions, programs, community initiatives, and other museum announcements. This publication is printed and mailed out to museum members and available to the public for free when they visit the museum. The SEMC Publication Design Competition showcases and provides benchmarks for regional publication efforts in southeastern museums.
THANK YOU
Support for all 2023–2024 exhibitions was provided by the following Annual Exhibition Fund donors.
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
Charles “Chuck” Edward Schwing
Robert and Linda Bowsher
Becky and Warren Gottsegen
LSU College of Art + Design
Mr. and Mrs. Sanford A. Arst
The Newton B. Thomas Family /Newtron Group Fund
EXHIBITIONS
EXHIBITIONS
Hank Willis Thomas
Unbranded: Reflections in Black by Corporate America
April 20–July 30, 2023
Curated by Clarke Brown, LSUMOA Curatorial Fellow
Hank Willis Thomas investigates race, identity, and class, with a focus on African American imagery and references in advertising, media, and popular culture. Thomas’s series Unbranded surveys fifty years of print advertising targeting African Americans. Thomas strips the advertisements of text and all references to product names and slogans, revealing subliminal messages of inequality and reinforce cultural stereotypes seen in popular culture. Thank you to Becky Patterson and Doug McCraw for generously loaning the selection from their complete set. Thank you to sponsors Robin Keegan & Clarke J. Gernon, Jr. for supporting this exhibition at the LSU Museum of Art.
The Shaping of Us: Queerness in Ceramics
August 3–October 22, 2023
Curated by Michelle Schulte, LSUMOA Chief Curator and Andy Shaw, former Associate Professor of Ceramics at LSU
Supported by the LSU Provost’s Fund for Innovation in Research.
This exhibition explored identity, societal pressures, and LGBTQ+ issues through the works of Joseph Kraft and Heather Mae Erickson. The show featured new ceramic pieces reflecting each artist's unique journey. Kraft’s whimsical clay illustrations and prints captured everyday intimacy, while Erickson’s community-driven approach highlighted storytelling and social dialogue, notably through her Pride Pots initiative, which fostered conversations on LGBTQ+ topics. Pride Pots partners: Western Carolina University LGBTQ Archive: Jackson County Collection and Blue Ridge Pride Archive.
Aligning with LSU’s Roadmap to Diversity, the University’s 2020 strategic plan to accomplish diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI), the Museum developed collaborative programming with LSU Residential Life, the LSU LGBTQ+ Faculty and Staff Caucus, and Baton Rouge Pride.
Reveal:
Photographs by Jerry Siegel
September 1–November 12, 2023
Curated by Michelle Schulte, LSUMOA Chief Curator
This exhibition explored identity and gender fluidity within the drag and transgender community, as seen through the lens of Alabama artist Jerry Siegel. The intimate images contrasted individuals with their stage characters through portraiture and sequential imagery. Before taking any photographs, Siegel learned the personal and professional histories of his subjects, allowing him to visually record their emotional identities through classically lit and framed compositions. The photographer captured their personas, embracing detailed depictions of bodies in all shapes, sizes, genders, and colors, exemplifying that beauty can be found in everyone. Additionally, the museum collaborated with LSU photography students to photograph and document two Baton Rouge drag artists, which were also featured in the exhibit. It was funded in part by grants from South Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Louisiana Division of the Arts, and the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities.
African American Masterworks from the Paul R. Jones Collection at The University of Alabama
August 3–December 3, 2023
Curated by Michelle Schulte, LSUMOA Chief Curator
The LSU Museum of Art presented an exhibition featuring sixty works from the Paul R. Jones Collection at The University of Alabama, showcasing paintings, sculptures, photographs, and prints by prominent 20th-century Black artists like Sam Gilliam, Faith Ringgold, and Jacob Lawrence. Founded in 2008, the collection grew to over 2,000 pieces, highlighting Jones’s commitment to preserving African American art. Jones, who faced racial barriers in education, began collecting art in the 1960s to elevate Black artists' visibility in mainstream museums, leaving a lasting legacy.
EXHIBITIONS
Mirror Mirror by Daniel Rozin
November 30, 2023–March 3, 2024
Curated by Michelle Schulte, LSUMOA Chief Curator
Born in Jerusalem and initially trained as an industrial designer, Rozin crafts interactive installations by merging found materials with motors, sensors, computer components, and software. His constructions respond to the viewers' presence, transforming them into the focal point. Unlike many digital artists, Rozin concealed the technology behind his work, creating a sense of mystery. Using tactile elements like toys, wood, or mirrors, he recreated large-scale pixels, exploring the relationship between physical materials, kinetic motion, and algorithmic imagery. Serving as an Associate Arts Professor at the Interactive Telecommunications Program, Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, Rozin teaches coursework such as Introduction to Computational Media and The World-Pixel by Pixel, providing a future generation of new media and digital artists the opportunity to hone their craft, blending engineering, technology, and imagery into emergent art forms that embrace invention and innovation.
Birds: Works from the Permanent Collection
November 9, 2023–March 28, 2024
Curated by Michelle Schulte, LSUMOA Chief Curator
This exhibition highlighted works from the LSU Museum of Art's permanent collection that centered around birds, showcasing both their beauty and how they have been represented in art. A variety of objects, from silver teaspoons to prints and paintings, explored the intricate relationships between birds and their environments, while also reflecting on their aesthetic appeal. Through various artistic mediums, the exhibition celebrated the elegance of birds, illustrating how artists have used them to convey deeper meanings and highlight their significance in nature and culture. The museum also partnered with LeMieux Galleries of New Orleans to present select bird-themed works.
Andy Warhol / Friends & Frenemies:
Prints from the Cochran Collection
January 11–March 28, 2024
Curated by Michelle Schulte, LSUMOA Chief Curator
The museum showcased over ninety works from the Cochran Collection, featuring serigraphs, etchings, woodblocks, and lithographs by American and European artists active from the late 1960s to the early 1990s. The exhibition included thirty-six original prints by Andy Warhol alongside works by Roy Lichtenstein, Helen Frankenthaler, Robert Rauschenberg, and Willem de Kooning, among others. It explored how artists challenged conventions during a time of cultural shifts, reflecting the evolving society and the rise of identity politics, consumerism, and political unrest. This exhibition was supported by a generous grant from the Pennington Family Foundation. The museum would also like to thank lenders Wesley and Missy Cochran and Steven and Beverly Heymsfield.
One Stitch at a Time: Southern Vernacular Quilts
March 21–June 23, 2024
Curated by Michelle Schulte, LSUMOA
Chief Curator
Traditional Fine Arts Organization
The exhibition featured vernacular quilts from the collections of Doug McCraw and the Hilliard Art Museum at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette. It highlighted works by the renowned quilters of Gee’s Bend, Alabama, whose bold patterns and vibrant colors gained global recognition, particularly during the Civil Rights movement with the Freedom Quilting Bee. The exhibition also included narrative quilts by O’tesia Harper, Sarah Mary Taylor, Yvonne Wells, and Chris Clark, showcasing fabric constructions that tell stories and preserve ancestral traditions. One Stitch at a Time: Southern Vernacular Quilts was supported by a grant from the Traditional Fine Arts Organization.
Coming Home: Geoffrey Beene–Southern Reflections
April 26–July 3, 2024
Curated by Dr. Michael E. Mamp, Director & Curator LSU Textile & Costume Museum
Geoffrey Beene, originally from Haynesville, Louisiana, was celebrated for his classic style, impeccable craftsmanship, and innovative approach to fashion design. The exhibition showcased a small selection from over two hundred pieces donated by Sylvia R. Karasu, MD, including garments and sketches from Beene’s studio. Renowned for its flawless construction and sophisticated elegance, Beene's work adapted French couture techniques to suit the American market. Presented in partnership with the LSU Textile & Costume Museum, this exhibition honored Beene’s legacy on what would have been his 100th birthday, with contributions from LSU graduate students and faculty.
Interior Space:
Photographs by Roland Miller & Paolo Nespoli
April 9–September 8, 2024
Curated by Michelle Schulte, LSUMOA Chief Curator
In 1998, Roland Miller began documenting the Space Shuttle program and the construction of the International Space Station (ISS) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Intrigued by the station's complex structure, he returned over several years, photographing additional modules and assembly facilities. In 2014, astronaut Dr. Cady Coleman challenged Miller to devise a method for photographing the ISS from the perspective of those aboard. Collaborating with Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli, Miller developed a unique system to transmit the images back to Earth. After extensive experimentation, they successfully documented the ISS from within. This exhibition showcases a selection of these groundbreaking images, accompanied by the book Interior Space: A Visual Exploration of the International Space Station.
Fierce Planets:
Work from the Studio Art Quilt Associates
April 18–September 8, 2024
Designed and coordinated by Studio Art Quilt Associates, Inc., in partnership with Johns Hopkins University
This juried exhibition featured fiber art inspired by the work of Dr. Sabine Stanley, a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkins University. In response to a call from the Studio Art Quilt Associates, Inc. (SAQA), artists from around the world created forty-two intricate pieces inspired by planets and space. Their works included traditional quilts, fabric assemblages, and soft sculptures, showcasing a wide range of techniques and materials. Objects from LSU’s Department of Physics and Astronomy and Geology and Geophysics, including a Space Shuttle tile and meteorites, complemented the exhibition, deepening the viewer’s understanding of space. Additionally, LSU students created a site-specific sculpture inspired by the cosmos, displayed alongside the exhibition.
Art in Louisiana: Views into the Collection
Updated annually with works from the permanent collection
Curated by Michelle Schulte, LSUMOA Chief Curator
Featuring works from the LSUMOA permanent collection of over 6,500 objects, these galleries include: Modern & Contemporary, Portrait, Chinese Jade, an Intro Gallery, and a newly renovated Ceramics Gallery, Works on Paper, and Decorative Arts Gallery in 2024. Artworks are rotated and updated regularly for visitors to experience and view new works throughout the year.
LOANS ON VIEW: Number One Tiger Fan by George Rodrigue (pictured left); Dual Portrait by an unknown artist from the Collection of Jeremy K. Simien; Richard Dial's Moses chair; Renée Stout's Hoodoo House; Ronald Lockett's Creation painting. All from the collection of Doug McCraw.
PROGRAMS
ART EDUCATION
The Summer 2024 Neighborhood Arts Project (NAP) in collaboration with various local organizations and sites, provided art-making lessons inspired by current exhibitions at LSU Museum of Art, specifically Fierce Planets: Work from the Studio Art Quilt Associates. The program aimed to reach historically underserved communities, offering free art activities at selected sites such as churches, community centers, BREC locations, and the East Baton Rouge Library System. Dr. Aaron Ryan from LSU’s Department of Physics also partnered with the museum to include spacerelated programs, featuring the Mobile Astronomy Resource System (MARS) Truck. This mobile science education unit, equipped with telescopes, a digital planetarium, and interactive experiments, provided engaging learning experiences for all ages. Over June and July, more than 1,068 community members participated in 20 sessions at 15 sites, with local art teacher Tyquencia Vessel and LSU Theatre doctoral student Sarah Nansubuga leading the sessions. Their enthusiasm and care helped nurture the creativity of participants, resulting in over 1,000 artworks created. The LSU Museum of Art also proudly welcomed Callie Smith as the new Educator and Public Programs Manager, who began her role in June and contributed to the success of the program.
15 Neighborhood Arts Community Sites artworks created >1,000
Thank you to our Neighborhood Arts Project locations. This program was also supported by the office of Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome.
For more info visit, www.lsumoa.org/nap
ACCESS FOR ALL INITIATIVE
Over 1,550 people attended Free First Sunday Programs, all made possible through the Art Bridges Foundation!
MAKING ART ACCESSIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY The LSU Museum of Art was granted $240,000 by the Art Bridges Foundation for its Access for All initiative, aimed at reducing barriers to museum visits nationwide. This substantial support was part of a $40 million effort to enhance access to museums, funding free admission days, expanded hours, and community engagement programs. The initiative involved 64 museums across 36 states and Puerto Rico, facilitating connections with local communities and enriching arts access, particularly for smaller institutions. Each museum tailored its programs to suit its community, fostering inclusive, diverse, and engaging experiences.
The grant from the Art Bridges Foundation and the Access for All initiative held immense significance for the LSU Museum of Art’s mission to engage the public. The funding reduced barriers for individuals and families, making art more accessible to a broader audience, including school groups and diverse communities in East Baton Rouge Parish. This opportunity infused new energy into the museum, allowed it to develop programs resonating with the local public, expanded partnerships, and welcomed more community members than ever before. It was a pivotal step in ensuring the LSU Museum of Art continued to enrich the lives of its community and serve as a cultural hub for all of Baton Rouge.
Access for All Day: All About Animals
Celebrate animals in art with engaging stories, creative crafts, and fun gallery games. This event offered a chance to explore artworks featuring animals with free admission, thanks to the support of the Art Bridges Foundation.
Access for All Day: All About Warhol
Dive into the vibrant world of Pop Art with activities inspired by the Andy Warhol: Friends & Frenemies exhibition. Guests enjoyed hands-on art-making and an interactive improv performance by The Overeducated Improv Group, bringing Warhol's art and philosophy to life.
Access for All Day: Celebrity Reading Room
Art and literature came together as local celebrities read favorite books in the galleries. Visitors explored exhibitions and participated in art-making while enjoying stories shared by prominent community leaders, making this event an inspiring celebration of art and words.
Access for All Day: The Sound of Music
A day of musical discovery featuring a special concert and an instrument petting zoo by the LSU Chamber of Music. Visitors enjoyed the intersection of music and art in an immersive and family-friendly experience.
Access for All Day: All About Quilts
Quilts took center stage with hands-on crafting activities and a deeper look at the exhibition One Stitch at a Time: Southern Vernacular Quilts. A special presentation by quilt expert Brenda Harris offered insight into the artistry and history of quilting.
Access for All Day: Journey into Space
An artistic journey to the stars included space-themed crafts, a mobile planetarium provided by LSU Physics & Astronomy, and exploration of the Fierce Planets exhibition. Members could also enjoy a discounted screening of 2001: A Space Odyssey at Manship Theatre.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
PANEL DISCUSSIONS & ARTIST TALKS
The museum hosted a variety of engaging panel discussions and artist talks, offering the public opportunities to connect with art and ideas in meaningful ways. These programs aim to foster learning, interaction, and dialogue while deepening appreciation for the arts. Highlights included a panel discussion on space with LSU Astronomy experts and another featuring leaders from the LGBTQ+ community, as well as educational lectures with distinguished guest speakers and visiting artist talks by figures like Jerry Siegel, Roland Miller, and more.
ART AT LUNCH & TODDLER THURSDAYS
This year the museum held Art at Lunch lectures with local guest speakers and also Toddler Thursday for young museum visitors. These programs were transitioned to be held on Free First Sundays to reach these audiences better.
COLLECTIONS TOURS
The museum hosted many behind-the-scenes tours in the permanent collections storage facility. Classes from LSU were able to learn about how museums care for art, collecting practices, and the opportunity to interact and engage with museum staff members
GROUP & SCHOOL TOURS
The museum's education department held many group and school tours sharing information on artists and artworks featured in exhibitions to all ages visiting the museum through gallery walk-through and art activities.
COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES
Community members and groups were invited to use the gallery space to host programming that enriched the visitor experience in new ways. Music performances were paired with the artwork on view to create immersive rich experiences in the museum.
FREE FRIDAY NIGHTS
The museum offers free museum admission every Friday night. We thank the Louisiana Lottery Corporation for sponsoring free admission.
LSU PARTNERSHIPS
PRIDE POTS PROJECT & PANEL
This program celebrated the opening of Reveal and The Shaping of Us with a panel discussion, Gender Identity and Social Constructs, featuring Heather Mae Erickson, Greg Williams Jr., Danielle Simone Boutté, and Shannon Walsh, Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at LSU. On National Coming Out Day, Heather Mae Erickson led a Pride Pots workshop on LSU’s campus, inviting participants to create ceramics exploring identity. Select pieces joined the exhibition, The Shaping of Us: Queerness in Ceramics.
LSU PHOTOGRAPHY COLLABORATION
Photographer Jerry Siegel collaborated with LSU photography students, taught by Associate Professor Kristine Thompson. In partnership with LSUMOA and the LSU College of Art + Design, Siegel demonstrated his portraiture techniques and worked alongside students during a model sitting with two Baton Rouge drag artists. Selected images by Siegel and the students were included in the exhibition Reveal in the LA Machinery Gallery.
PRINTMAKING PROJECTS
Assistant Professor Lauren Cardenás led LSU printmaking students in exploring silkscreen and relief techniques inspired by Andy Warhol’s pop politics and activist art from the 1970s and 1980s. Students created a series of social justice screen prints, with selected works displayed at LSUMOA during Andy Warhol/ Friends and Frenemies and reproduced around downtown Baton Rouge. Cardenás also hosted a printmaking workshop for local high school teachers, sharing techniques to inspire their classrooms.
WARHOL RECEPTION ACTIVITY
During the reception for Andy Warhol/Friends & Frenemies: Prints from the Cochran Collection, LSU graduate students in printmaking demonstrated their craft live in the galleries. Visitors had the unique opportunity to watch the process and take home a freshly made print, bringing the art of Warhol-inspired printmaking to life.
LSU TEXTILE & COSTUME MUSEUM
The LSU Museum of Art collaborated with the LSU Textile and Costume Museum to present Geoffrey Beene: Southern Reflections, celebrating the legacy of the iconic fashion designer from Louisiana. Curated by LSU graduate students under the mentorship of Dr. Michael E. Mamp, the exhibition highlighted Beene's impeccable craftsmanship and innovative designs. Student curators included: Md Nazmul Haque, Chloe Johnson, Lauren E. Lansdell, LaDyra Lyte, MfonAbasi Obong, Aja Palermo, Elizabeth Schick, Morgan Strzynski, MG Taylor, and Penelope Williams, alongside visiting scholar Camila C. De Albuquerque Olivera.
FIERCE PLANETS COLLABORATION
The LSU Museum of Art partnered with LSU’s Departments of Physics, Astronomy, Geology, and Geophysics to present Fierce Planets, an exhibition featuring forty-two artworks inspired by space. The show included artifacts from LSU’s collections and a site-specific sculpture created by Associate Professor Loren Schwerd’s students, inspired by the cosmos. Additionally, a panel discussion with Interior Space photographer Roland Miller and Dr. Natalie Hinkel, Assistant Professor of Physics & Astronomy at LSU, was moderated by Dr. Caleb Wheeler of LSU, offering deeper insights into the connection between art and science. Finally, LSU senior Reagan Power crafted an animated title wall for the Fierce Planets exhibition.
COLLECTIONS
▲ Claes Oldenburg, The Soap of Baton Rouge, 1990. Cast resin, vinyl filled with aluminum silicate, screenprint on acetate, book. Purchase by the LSU Museum of Art.
Kensuke Yamada, Arm Strong Boy and Arm Strong Girl, 2022. Ceramic Stoneware. Gift of Winifred and Keven P. Reilly.
The LSU Museum of Art's permanent collection expanded with the acquisitions of 59 objects including artworks by Thornton Dial, Gordon Parks, Claes Oldenburg, Kensuke Yamada, Tony Natsoulas, and more.
▲
▲ Thornton Dial, Lady Running From a Long Neck Tiger, 1990. Watercolor on paper. Gift of Winifred and Kevin P. Reilly.
▲ Gordon Parks, Willie Causey, Jr. with Gun During Violence in Alabama, Shady Grove, Alabama, 1956. Archival pigment print. Edition 1/7. Gift of Winifred and Kevin P. Reilly.
▲ DIGITIZING THE COLLECTION
Two graduate students from the LSU Digital Media Arts and Engineering (DMAE) program, Meredyth Yorek and Sabrina Pagoaga, created three-dimensional scans of select collection objects, including ivory, jade, and nephrite sculptures. The resulting digital images will provide visitors with the opportunity to virtually interact with these pieces, which were generally not on view in the museum. One notable object, a fragile late eighteenth-century ivory basket, will allow viewers to study its intricate carving techniques and delicate details.
⊳ CLOUD BASED COLLECTION SYSTEM
As part of the collections storage upgrade, the museum invested in Collector Systems, a cloud-based database that streamlines collection management and enhances access. This new tool allows the museum to share collection information and images online for the first time, supporting research and teaching for faculty, students, and scholars.
⊳ STORAGE UPGRADES
The LSU Museum of Art began enhancing its art storage with new shelving, painting racks, and modern solutions to preserve and showcase its collection for future generations. This is the first major storage upgrade since 2005, made possible by a generous gift from Winifred and Kevin Reilly, and prepares the museum for re-accreditation during the fall of 2024.
GEAUX SEE ART thank
you for your support!
THANK YOU Community Partners
The LSU College of Art + Design
The LSU College of Music and Dramatic Arts
LSU Digital Media Arts and Engineering
LSU Physics, Astronomy, & Geology
LSU Anthropology
LSU Residential Life
LGBTQ+ LSU Faculty and Staff Caucus
Baton Rouge Pride
Pride Pots
Pennington Family Foundation
The Office of Mayor-President
Sharon Weston Broome
Junior League of Baton Rouge
Doug McCraw
Gardere Initiative
Village Resource Center
EBR Libraries
Peal George Center
New Hope Baptist Church
Mt. Gillion Baptist Church
Mt. Bethel Baptist Church
Greater Baton Rouge Council on Aging
EBR School System Fine Arts Dept.
LSU Textile & Costume Museum
Xi Nu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
Beta Iota Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi
Alpha Fraternity Inc.
Baton Rouge Alzheimer's Association
Manship Theatre and Shaw Center Staff
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
LSU Museum of Art is supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council; in part by a grant from the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, funded by the East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President & Metro Council; and in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. LSUMOA thanks the generous donors to the Annual Fund. Toddler Thursday's free admission was sponsored by the Junior League of Baton Rouge. Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.
Thank you to Louisiana Lottery Corporation for sponsoring free admission of Free Friday Nights at the LSU Museum of Art. The LSU Museum of Art is also a Blue Star Museum providing free admission to veterans and military families, and provided free admission with EBT cards through Museums for All initiative.
ADVISORY BOARD 2023―2024
Chair: Ben Jeffers
Vice Chair: Elizabeth Noland
Secretary / Treasurer: Stephen R. Miller
Immediate Past Chair: Nancy C. Dougherty
Margaret Benjamin
Dan Bergeron
Luisa Cantillo
Renee Erickson
Becky Gottsegen
Blaine Grimes
John Haile
Randell Henry
Gerri Hobdy
Yvette B. Marsh
Winifred Reilly
Laura A. Siu
Darius Spieth
Carol Steinmuller
Ex-Officio: Clarke J. Gernon, Jr.
Ex-Officio: Mark Tullos
Office of the Lt. Governor
Representative: Susannah Bing Johannsen
Honorary: Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser
FRIENDS OF LSU MUSEUM OF ART
President: Clarke J. Gernon, Jr.
Vice President: Michael Avant
Secretary / Treasurer: Robert Bowsher
Brad M. Bourgoyne
Ann Wilkinson
Jeff Bell
Kevin Harris
STAFF
Mark Tullos, Executive Director
Sarah Amacker, Communications & Marketing Specialist
LeAnn Dusang, Museum Store Manager / Visitor Services Manager / Membership Coordinator
Nedra Hains, Director of Operations & Visitor Services
Callie Smith, Educator & Public Programs Manager
Marianna Luquette, Museum Registrar
Sandy Parfait, Business Manager
Travis Pickett, Preparator
Michelle Schulte, Chief Curator & Director of Public Programs
Brandon Lewis, Educator & Public Programs Manager (June 2022–May 2024)