FROM THE INTERIM DIRECTOR

from Spring 2023 Art Talk

DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL FUND CAMPAIGN

The mark of an exceptional arts organization is its relevance to a broad constituency of community members and its ability to serve as a gathering place for every member of society. As a public museum with a broad mission, the LSU Museum of Art is committed to representing our own community in the fullest sense possible, presenting exhibitions and related programming initiatives which investigate the human experience in all forms. Ideally, when you walk through our spaces you will have the opportunity to see the world from multiple perspectives, understanding the struggles, joys, and aspirations shared across society.

Over the next several months the Museum will continue to reflect Louisiana and the nation’s diverse and rich culture through exhibitions which explore issues of representation, race, and gender using a variety media. I, Too, Am Thornton Dial takes a stark look at complex themes including the Civil Rights movement, race, class, and family through works which are composed with found objects. Hank Willis Thomas Unbranded: Reflections in Black by Corporate America strips away advertising copy from some of the most recognizable campaigns targeting African-American consumers to reveal the role of imagery in reinforcing racial stereotypes.

Later this year, the Museum will present Reveal: Photographs by Jerry Siegel which takes a photographic view of the physical transformation of members of the Drag community. This exhibition will be paired with The Shaping of Us: Queerness in Ceramics, which will explore gender identity and LGBTQ+ culture through sculptural works. The Shaping of Us: Queerness in Ceramics is an invitational showcase and one of many collaborations with LSU faculty and staff spanning a broad spectrum of the University, which also includes an upcoming exhibition of works by one of America’s most recognized fashion designers, Louisiana native Geoffrey Beene.

Our mission to engage broadly in presenting exhibitions which explore diverse members of our community directly connects to our role as a University-affiliated museum and is a reflection of the ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the broader institution. Finally, as we look to next year, we are pleased to announce a major exhibition of the work of Andy Warhol and his contemporaries, Andy Warhol / Friends and Frenemies: Prints from the Cochran Collection This is certain to be a popular exhibition, so stay-tuned over the next several months for more information and ways to get involved. As always we appreciate your commitment and support of the LSU Museum of Art. See you in the galleries.

Kristin Sosnowsky Interim Executive Director