Stories | Columbia Museum of Art

December 17, 2024

Columbia Museum of Art to begin gallery lighting updates in January

PRESS RELEASE The Columbia Museum of Art announces it will undergo a major legacy project in its 75th anniversary year — a total gallery lighting renovation and fresh art reinstall beginning late January 2025.

November 20, 2024

Artist on Staff: Katie Chandler

Hi, my name is Katie Chandler, and I’m the visitor experience manager at the CMA. I enjoy creating art in all different kinds of mediums

October 22, 2024

Arts & Draughts returns with puppetry, French Moderns, and more

PRESS RELEASE Columbia’s favorite museum party Arts & Draughts returns on Friday, November 8.

October 9, 2024

Staff Pick: Kaitlyn Martin

Hello! I’m Kaitlyn, one of the welcome desk associates in the visitor experience department.

October 4, 2024

From Soil to Soul: Exploring (Un)Settled Through Music and Conversation

Musician and host Benny Starr is joined by featured guests Beckee Garris, Catawba citizen, historian, and storyteller; Marion “Rollen” Chalmers, business owner and farmer of SC heritage crops; Thomas Mosely, drummer and storyteller; and Rodrick BinGichi and JT Rollerson, multi-instrumentalists from the Four20s band. Centered on the idea of creativity within themes of labor, justice, environment, and spirituality – all of which are crucial components to dealing with the world’s environmental problems – the program journeys from music to conversation to storytelling and back, offering a unique

September 18, 2024

Artists on Staff: Sam Goodman

Talking about your art is a pretty dangerous game.

August 15, 2024

Major exhibition of French modern art coming this fall

The Columbia Museum of Art is pleased to announce French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, 1850 – 1950, a major exhibition on view Saturday, October 5, 2024, through Sunday, January 5, 2025.

July 12, 2024

Artists on Staff: David Walls

To the Population is inspired by an artwork of the same name by the German artist Hans Haacke that was displayed in the Reichstag in 2000 and holds strong political messaging.

June 27, 2024

Columbia Museum of Art’s board of trustees adds three new members

PRESS RELEASE The Columbia Museum of Art announces Leslie Archie, Elizabeth Nkuo Johnson, and Jesse A. Smith as the three new members elected to serve on its board of trustees.

June 12, 2024

Staff Pick: Drew Baron

Nestled among epic and bright landscapes and seascapes, this subtle and contemplative painting may feel a little underwhelming by comparison, but it is the quiet and intimate nature of this work that keeps me coming back.

June 6, 2024

Columbia Museum of Art presents (Un)Settled: The Landscape in American Art

PRESS RELEASE Major traveling exhibition of Art Bridges Cohort Program’s American South Consortium

May 16, 2024

Columbia Museum of Art offers free summer admission to South Carolinians

PRESS RELEASE: The Columbia Museum of Art has been selected to participate in Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program, a transformative, three-year funding initiative aimed at increasing access to museums across America.

April 18, 2024

Ginny Newell honored with the 2023 Craft Leadership Award

PRESS RELEASE April 18, 2024 Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art is proud to have presented the 2023 John Richard Craft Leadership Award to Virginia E. Newell (Ginny). The Craft Award, named for the museum’s first director, is the highest honor the CMA bestows. A dedicated volunteer, passionate museum advocate, and expert art conservator, Newell epitomizes the values the CMA recognizes each year with the Craft Award. Ann Holtschlag, last year’s Craft Award recipient, presented the award to Newell at an elegant appreciation dinner celebrating her service on Wednesday, April 17. “Few

April 5, 2024

Columbia Museum of Art receives Knight Foundation Grant

PRESS RELEASE: The Columbia Museum of Art announces it has been selected as a recipient of a grant from the Knight Foundation Fund at Central Carolina Community Foundation.

April 2, 2024

Staff Pick: Erica von Schenk

I remember peeking in through the glass gallery doors to catch a glimpse of the art going up on the walls. I think my exact words were ‘OH MY GOSH IS THAT WALLPAPER?!

March 26, 2024

Arts & Draughts returns with Daikaiju, Powder Horns, and more

PRESS RELEASE: The Columbia Museum of Art’s biannual block party Arts & Draughts is back with a vengeance on April 12.

March 1, 2024

Darrel Ellis: Regeneration Opening Day Discussion

Director of Art and Learning Jackie Adams sits down to discuss the Darrel Ellis: Regeneration with exhibition co-curators Leslie Cozzi, curator at the Baltimore Museum of Art, and Sergio Bessa, chief curator emeritus at The Bronx Museum of the Arts.

February 17, 2024

Interior Lives with Senior Curator Michael Neumeister

Recorded February 17, 2024, at the opening of Interior Lives: Modern American Spaces, 1890–1945.

February 14, 2024

Art Blossoms exhibition fills the CMA with fresh botanical beauty

PRESS RELEASE: The Columbia Museum of Art announces the return of Art Blossoms, a beautifully botanical exhibition experience and museum fundraiser.

February 9, 2024

CMA Staff Pick: Catherine D'Angelo

Hey there, friends! My name is Catherine D'Angelo, and I am the assistant manager of rentals and events at the CMA.

January 23, 2024

First major museum exhibition on the complex and poignant work of Darrel Ellis heads to the CMA

PRESS RELEASE: The Columbia Museum of Art announces Darrel Ellis: Regeneration, on view Saturday, February 17, through Sunday, May 12.

January 18, 2024

More Than Rhythm: A Black Music Series returns February 2

PRESS RELEASE: The Columbia Museum of Art presents More Than Rhythm: A Black Music Series Featuring Tammy Kernodle, the season three premiere of the popular free concert and conversation program.

January 16, 2024

New, exclusive exhibition examines relationship between people and place

PRESS RELEASE: The Columbia Museum of Art announces Interior Lives: Modern American Spaces, 1890–1945, on view Saturday, February 17, through Sunday, May 12, 2024.

December 12, 2023

CMA Staff Pick: True

Hello! I’m True and I’m a gallery attendant. I make sure everyone feels welcome in the galleries. I also keep the art safe and provide information about it and the museum.

November 15, 2023

Columbia Museum of Art acquires story quilt by artist Tina Williams Brewer

The Columbia Museum of Art announces an exciting acquisition of new work by Pittsburgh-based fiber artist Tina Williams Brewer, who creates densely layered, highly symbolic story quilts that explore African diasporic history and ancestral heritage.

November 2, 2023

CMA Staff Pick: Alex Taylor

My favorite piece at the museum is Portrait of a Woman. I find myself going to her when I’m having an off day and I need to get right with myself.

September 20, 2023

Major fashion exhibition featuring Alexander McQueen and Ann Ray opens October 7

PRESS RELEASE September 20, 2023 Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art is pleased to present Lee Alexander McQueen & Ann Ray: Rendez-Vous, a major fashion and photography exhibition on view Saturday, October 7, 2023, through Sunday, January 21, 2024. Curated and organized by Barrett Barrera Projects, Rendez-Vous débuted at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, California, and will make its second stop at the CMA before continuing its multi-city tour. The exhibition’s East Coast debut will be celebrated at the Rendez-Vous Opening Party on Friday, October 6. “McQueen continues to endure

September 20, 2023

CMA Staff Pick: Thomas Ruple

Oh, hello there — I'm Thomas Ruple, a preparator in the curatorial department. My role involves designing, hanging, and lighting shows, as well as caring for the parts of the collection not currently on display. I love the hands-on and ever-evolving nature of my position at the CMA! Among the impressive works in our collection, one of my personal favorites is Guido Cagnacci’s painting David Holding Goliath’s Head. The lifelike quality achieved through the artist's figurative technique, blending softness and faithful representation, is truly captivating. This artwork serves as a masterful

September 14, 2023

Exclusive Sergio Hudson exhibition opening at the Columbia Museum of Art

Iconic designer’s fashions and sketches go on view November 18

August 15, 2023

Columbia Museum of Art’s board of trustees adds two new members

PRESS RELEASE The Columbia Museum of Art announces Linda Pearce Edwards and Dr. Todd Lefkowitz as two new members elected to serve on its board of trustees for the 2023 – 2026 term.

August 8, 2023

Rodney McMillian, Columbia-born artist with national reputation, receives Key to the City and S.C. State House resolution as his work is acquired by the Columbia Museum of Art

PRESS RELEASE Two McMillian artworks have been acquired by the museum with support from the Contemporaries.

July 19, 2023

CMA Staff Picks: Nicole Morgan

A Rainy Day by Hans Burkhardt is my favorite work in the collection galleries... I am drawn in by the warmth of the color and the Cubist elements seen in the peaks and hard lines of the cityscape.

July 18, 2023

Columbia Museum of Art participates in the Art Bridges Cohort Program

PRESS RELEASE The Columbia Museum of Art is sharing works of art and material culture from its collection with three partner museums, including two in the American South, through the Art Bridges Cohort Program, made possible by the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art’s $2 million grant from the Art Bridges Foundation.

June 20, 2023

Ray McManus

Jerry T. Okimoto American, born 1924 Grey Conception #2, 1958 Oil on canvas Museum Purchase CMA 1959.16

June 16, 2023

A Talk with the Artist: Tina Williams Brewer

In celebrate the exhibition Tina Williams Brewer: Stories of Grace, members enjoyed a conversation between curator Michael Neumeister and artist Tina Williams Brewer that centered on Brewer's work, its thematic ties to ancestry and place, and the importance of quilting as an artistic medium. Recorded June 16, 2023

June 10, 2023

Opening Celebration Talk: Resurgence and Renaissance

To celebrate the opening of Resurgence and Renaissance: Art of the Catawba Nation Since 1973, visitors enjoyed a conversation between Brittany Taylor-Driggers, director of campus collections and galleries and associate professor of art and art history at USC Lancaster, Alex Osborn, visual artist, and Jackie Adams, CMA director of art and learning. Recorded June 10, 2023

June 8, 2023

Major fashion exhibition featuring Alexander McQueen and Ann Ray coming this fall

PRESS RELEASE - The Columbia Museum of Art is pleased to present Lee Alexander McQueen & Ann Ray: Rendez-Vous, a major fashion and photography exhibition on view Saturday, October 7, 2023, through Sunday, January 21, 2024.

May 23, 2023

Lithography: It's a Process

Drawn from the ancient Greek word "lithos," which means "stone," lithography is a printmaking process.

May 9, 2023

FAAAC to host Conversations with Collectors: The Joys of Collecting Black Art

PRESS RELEASE - The Friends of African American Art and Culture (FAAAC) presents Conversations with Collectors: The Joys of Collecting Black Art, featuring collectors Patrick Diamond, Dr. Philip Toussaint, and Marjorie Hammock on Thursday, June 1, at the Columbia Museum of Art.

April 28, 2023

CMA Staff Picks: Will Rowan

Hello, I’m Will, and I’m the Facility Operations & Systems Manager at our beloved Columbia Museum of Art. I lead security and facilities teams, working hard to provide overwatch and safety for staff and visitors, safeguard the artwork, and ensure an enjoyable experience for guests while they visit the museum and our wide collection of art and artifacts. As a student of the Middle East and an American military veteran who spent multiple years in places from Jordan to Afghanistan, I am absolutely enthralled with the silk prayer carpet from Tabriz, Iran, in Gallery 5 of Reverent Ornament: Art

April 25, 2023

Columbia SC 63, USC Center for Civil Rights History and Research, and Columbia Museum of Art announce partnership

PRESS RELEASE: The Columbia Museum of Art (CMA), the USC Center for Civil Rights History and Research (CRC), and Columbia SC 63: Our Story Matters have partnered to create the “Our Story Matters Gallery,” opening in August 2023 at the CMA.

April 5, 2023

Forecasting Cultural Heritage Protection

In collaboration with the Walker Institute of the University of South Carolina, the CMA welcomed Dr. James Bezjian for a lecture inspired by the historic artwork in Reverent Ornament: Art from the Islamic World. Bezjian illustrates how initiatives like the Army Monuments Officers program — whose members are considered modern-day “Monuments Men,” a reference to the special task force that protected art and artifacts during World War II — can forecast for problems related to cultural heritage before they happen and create contingency plans for those circumstances. Recorded April 5, 2023

March 28, 2023

Nathalie Anderson

Nathalie Anderson reads her poem inspired by Small Silver Water Splash by Pat Steir.

March 15, 2023

ArtBreak: Black Mountain College

Alice Sebrell, director of preservation for the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center in Asheville, NC. explores the extraordinary history and impact of Black Mountain College on ideas about education, art, and experimental communities during its time and into the present. Inspired by the work and artists in Our Own Work, Our Own Way: Ascendant Women Artists in the Johnson Collection, Sebrell pays particular attention to some of the women of Black Mountain College. Recorded March 15, 2023

March 9, 2023

Art Blossoms blooms again over Mother’s Day Weekend

PRESS RELEASE: The Columbia Museum of Art announces the return of Art Blossoms, a beautifully botanical exhibition experience and museum fundraiser on view Thursday, May 11, through Sunday, May 14.

March 7, 2023

Arts & Draughts springs forward to another epic party

PRESS RELEASE: The Columbia Museum of Art’s biannual block party Arts & Draughts returns Friday, March 31. This signature Columbia event is a great opportunity to frolic with friends and community creatives while exploring the museum in a party atmosphere.

March 2, 2023

Ann Holtschlag honored with the CMA’s Craft Leadership Award

PRESS RELEASE: The Columbia Museum of Art is proud to have presented the 2022 John Richard Craft Leadership Award to Ann Holtschlag

February 22, 2023

CMA Staff Picks: Manager of Engagement Wilson Bame

Hey, I’m Wilson, manager of engagement at the Columbia Museum of Art. I oversee public programming here at the museum, which means every day is a little different, but that variety is what I love! Whether it’s a talk or lecture, a concert such as our series More Than Rhythm, or big programs like Arts & Draughts and Family Fun Night, I always enjoy the opportunity to bring new experiences to the community, especially when I get to work with the community that makes them happen. My favorite CMA Collection object is the camel sculpture created in China during the Tang Dynasty. The first time I

February 19, 2023

FAAAC presents A Conversation with Hafizah Augustus Geter and Tyrone Geter

On the heels of her recently released debut memoir, The Black Period: On Personhood, Race and Origin, celebrated author and poet Hafizah Augustus Geter joins the Friends of African American Art & Culture (FAAAC) for a reception, book-signing, and moderated talk. The author is joined by her father, world-class artist, painter, sculptor, illustrator, and educator Tyrone Geter, who provided the inspiring artwork featured on the book jacket and throughout the pages of The Black Period. Dr. Nancy Tolson, FAAAC board member, CMA commissioner, and assistant director of African American Studies at the

February 13, 2023

Reverent Ornament: Art from the Islamic World opens February 18

PRESS RELEASE: The Columbia Museum of Art announces featured spring exhibition Reverent Ornament: Art from the Islamic World, on view Saturday, February 18, through Sunday, May 14, 2023.

February 12, 2023

Art, Perception, and Social Transformation

South Carolina artist Dr. Leo Franklin Twiggs and art critic and historian Dr. Frank Martin discuss the legacies of Elizabeth Catlett and Dr. Samella Lewis. These mid-20th century pioneers in African American aesthetics helped shape increasing levels of contemporary interest in and emphasis upon African American visual culture. Twiggs was a personal acquaintance of both Catlett and Lewis. He sponsored Catlett's visit to South Carolina in the 1980s, showing her works during his tenure as the Executive Director of The I. P. Stanback Museum at South Carolina State University. Dr. Lewis included

February 9, 2023

Author Hafizah Augustus Geter amplifies The Black Period during book signing and moderated conversation at the Columbia Museum of Art

PRESS RELEASE: Columbia, S.C. – On the heels of her recently released debut memoir The Black Period: On Personhood, Race and Origin, celebrated author and poet Hafizah Augustus Geter joins the Friends of African American Art and Culture (FAAAC) for a reception, book signing, and moderated talk on Sunday, February 19, at the Columbia Museum of Art.

January 31, 2023

Enjoy Black History Month programs at the CMA

Press Release: The Columbia Museum of Art is offering a slate of programming celebrating Black History Month this February, including art talks, films, and a celebration of soul with the popular More Than Rhythm: A Black Music Series.

January 28, 2023

FAAAC presents Exploring the Essence of Humanity: An Artist Talk with YoYo Lander

The Friends of African American Art & Culture welcomed home artist and South Carolina native YoYo Lander for a moderated conversation. Through a meticulous process of strategically placing individually stained pieces of watercolor on paper, Lander’s works beautifully capture those small moments in the everyday lives of her subjects, evoking emotion and creating human connection. “My aesthetic is visceral and expressive,” explains Lander. “My passion is to use body language as an introduction to context where one might find a sense of truth.” Ingrid O. McMillan — FAAAC board member and former

January 28, 2023

FAAAC presents A Storytelling Celebration

Storytelling is an age-old tradition and source of inspiration for art from around the globe, but art can also inspire the stories shared by today’s raconteurs. Join CMA affinity group the Friends of African American Art & Culture (FAAAC) for a storytelling event celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as well as the exhibition The Art of Elizabeth Catlett: From the Collection of Samella Lewis. Recorded January 16, 2023

January 21, 2023

Opening Day Talk: Our Own Work, Our Own Way

Carter Johnson — co-curator of Our Own Work, Our Own Way: Ascendant Women Artists in the Johnson Collection and daughter-in-law of the collection’s owners — discusses the featured artists and exactly how this exhibition came to be.

January 17, 2023

Celebrate soul all month long with More Than Rhythm: A Black Music Series

PRESS RELEASE: The Columbia Museum of Art’s More Than Rhythm: A Black Music Series returns during Black History Month for a month-long Celebration of Soul.

January 6, 2023

Exhibition of 20th-century women artists with ties to the South coming to the CMA

Our Own Work, Our Own Way: Ascendant Women Artists in the Johnson Collection opens January 21 PRESS RELEASE January 6, 2023 Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art announces featured exhibition Our Own Work, Our Own Way: Ascendant Women Artists in the Johnson Collection, on view Saturday, January 21, through Sunday, May 21, 2023. Presented by the Johnson Collection, Spartanburg, South Carolina, the exhibition brings together 42 female artists of the 20th century who had connections to the South — including Emma Amos, Beverly Buchanan, Elaine de Kooning, Zelda Fitzgerald, Gwendolyn Knight

January 6, 2023

Mixing Oil Paints: It's a Process

Oil painters love to mix things up. Cheap puns aside, artists who work in oils are truly modern-day alchemists, carefully blending powdered pigments with oils and other solutions to create vivid color palettes for their work. But how did the oil painters of yesteryear, for whom picking up a tube of pre-mixed oil paint at a craft supply store simply wasn't a possibility, mix their paints? And how do the oil painters of today abide by, or diverge from, that same practice? Let's dive in and find out. Oil painting: origins and process Though most of the iconic oil painting works in western art

December 15, 2022

A Conversation with Curators

CMA Curator Michael Neumeister and Bill Bodine, former CMA deputy director and chief curator discuss the history of Kress collections in museums throughout the United States. During Bodine’s eight years at the museum, from 1994 to 2002, he oversaw the CMA Collection’s relocation from the Taylor House on Senate Street to its current home on Main Street. He and Neumeister discuss the thrill of moving and housing the Kress collection, their favorite works in the European Splendors exhibition, and the care and interpretation required to maintain such a collection. Neumeister joined the museum as

November 22, 2022

Current and former CMA curators reflect on Kress collection

Thursday, December 15 | Happy hour at 6:00 p.m. | Conversation 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art presents A Conversation with Curators, a unique opportunity to learn about Renaissance and Baroque art from the experiences of two CMA curators, on Thursday, December 15, at 7:00 p.m. CMA Curator Michael Neumeister and Bill Bodine, former CMA deputy director and chief curator, discuss the history of Kress collections in museums throughout the United States and specifically the CMA’s own holdings, much of which is currently on view in the exhibition European Splendors

November 17, 2022

More Than Rhythm: A Black Music Series returns with Nicole Neely and The Black Exchange

November 11, 2022

The CMA Gala serves cocktails, creativity, and community on December 3

Celebrate and support the arts at the museum’s largest fundraiser of the year Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art is honoring creativity and community with a night of cocktails, conversation, dancing, and more at the CMA Gala , an annual black-tie affair to celebrate and support the arts, on Saturday, December 3, from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. The public is invited to come bust a move, serve a look, and make some memories in support of their museum. The evening features libations from Black Tie Bartending and heavy hors d’oeuvres from Southern Way, including wagyu beef bites, brown butter

October 27, 2022

CMA Chamber Music on Main premieres November 7 with all-star lineup

Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art announces the triumphant return of CMA Chamber Music on Main , the critically acclaimed, intimate concert series in which music and art blend together to create an unforgettable evening. The 2022–2023 season kicks off with a bang on Monday, November 7 , as pianist and series artistic director Andrew Armstrong welcomes an all-star lineup of magnificent musicians to the stage: Dominic Desautels on clarinet, Beth Guterman Chu on viola, Arnaud Sussmann on violin, and Alice Yoo on cello. Throughout the night the quintet will grace concertgoers with the

October 21, 2022

Epic museum party Arts & Draughts returns November 11

Live music, stand-up comedy, art experiences, and lots more Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art announces the return of Arts & Draughts , Columbia’s most creative party, on Friday, November 11, from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. Held twice a year in the fall and spring, Arts & Draughts is a great opportunity to have fun with friends and community creatives while exploring the CMA in a party atmosphere. This time it’s on Veterans Day and features a fantastic lineup of live music, stand-up comedy, food, libations, art activities, and art experiences from the booming Columbia cultural scene and

October 20, 2022

Local collectors loan works by iconic African American artists to the CMA

PRESS RELEASE: The Columbia Museum of Art announces new exhibition Forward Together: African American Art from the Judy and Patrick Diamond Collection.

October 19, 2022

CMA Staff Picks: Visitor Experience Associate Maggie

“ Sky Window by Gene Davis is my favorite piece on view in the CMA Collection galleries. The contemporary art gallery is filled with a variety of pieces, but this painting stands out to me with its massive size, bright colors, and geometric lines. The almost pastel pinks, oranges, blues, and greens look as if they are running down the raw canvas only to stop cleanly inches above the bottom edge. The juxtaposition of the fluid and busy paint application with the simple rectangular shapes creates this easy movement that stirs of joy for me. I could honestly get lost in it for hours.”

October 6, 2022

Elizabeth Catlett survey coming to the Columbia Museum of Art

Exhibition on iconic 20 th-century artist opens October 14 Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art announces featured fall exhibition The Art of Elizabeth Catlett: From the Collection of Samella Lewis , on view Friday, October 14, 2022, through Sunday, January 22, 2023. Organized by Landau Traveling Exhibitions, Los Angeles, California, and the August Wilson Center for African American Culture, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the exhibition celebrates Elizabeth Catlett (1915 – 2012), a sculptor and printmaker widely considered to be one of the most important African American artists of the last

September 23, 2022

Columbia Museum of Art traveling exhibition to make hometown stop

European Splendors: Highlights from the Kress Collection opens October 1 Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art announces featured fall exhibition European Splendors: Highlights from the Kress Collection , on view Saturday, October 1, 2022, through Sunday, January 1, 2023. The exhibition offers occasion to reconsider Renaissance art through the lens of the CMA’s remarkable holdings — largely off view since 2017 — in a luxurious new way. With a focus on the Italian schools, it reveals the artistic innovations in Europe from the late 13 th century through the Baroque period. “From the early

September 16, 2022

Columbia Museum of Art’s Binder Podcast Wins Gold

PRESS RELEASE: The Columbia Museum of Art is pleased to announce it is a recipient of the 2022 Southeastern Museums Conference Gold Award for Media Production for its podcast, Binder.

August 4, 2022

Adia Victoria opens season of More Than Rhythm: A Black Music Series

Season 2 features blues, classical, soul, and old-time folk music Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art announces the second season of More Than Rhythm: A Black Music Series , hosted by ethnomusicologist Dr. Birgitta Johnson and kicking off Friday, August 26, with a special performance from South Carolina native and globally recognized blues musician Adia Victoria. More artists featured this season include Nicole Neely and The Black Exchange, Mahoganëë, DJ Lady Marauder, and Dom Flemons. “Last year, we launched More Than Rhythm with the sacred roots of Black music, and this month we will

July 28, 2022

Columbia Museum of Art’s board of trustees adds eight new members

Talented local leaders bring their skills to the museum Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art announces eight new members elected to serve on its board of trustees for the 2022 – 2023 term. They are: Leighton Lord, chairman of Nexsen Pruet, LLC Chelsey Allen Malloy, assistant director of development in the College of Education at the University of South Carolina Rene McCall, creative director at Nephron Pharmaceuticals Ben Rex, president of Cyberwoven Dr. Jandrette Rhoe, family medicine specialist at MUSC Health Primary Care Beth Richardson, partner at Robinson Gray Stepp and Laffitte

May 26, 2022

More Than Rhythm: A Black Music Series returns with Benny Starr

Celebrate Black Music Month with a free talk and concert at the CMA Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art presents More Than Rhythm: A Black Music Series with Benny Starr, the third program of More Than Rhythm: A Black Music Series, on Friday, June 3, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. with galleries and bar open at 6:00 p.m. The evening features guest artist Benny Starr, S.C. Lowcountry native, consciousness-raising hip-hop artist, and recent US Water Alliance Artist-in-Residence. After a sit-down with Dr. Birgitta Johnson, ethnomusicologist and series host, Starr performs with full band The

May 19, 2022

The Friends of African American Art & Culture celebrates first-ever art acquisition

Honor a major milestone at FAAAC presents Modern Rhythms on June 2 Columbia, S.C. – CMA affinity group the Friends of African American Art & Culture (FAAAC) announces their first-ever art acquisition — Oliver Lee Jackson’s Monotype IV (2006) — recently gifted to the museum in memory of D. Delores Logan and now showcased in Modern Rhythms, a new gallery featuring works on paper from the CMA Collection. This major milestone will be celebrated on Thursday, June 2, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., with the program FAAAC presents Modern Rhythms. “We’re delighted about this special event where we will

May 13, 2022

Vibrant summer shows use different approaches to explore the natural world

Enjoy American Impressionism and stunning fiber installations at the CMA Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art announces two fresh summer exhibitions, both organized by the CMA, that offer complementary expressions of perspective, technique, and the natural world. In the Shadow of Monet: Giverny and American Impressionism, opening Saturday, June 11, features the work of over 40 American artists who traveled to Giverny at the turn of the 20 th century to explore the avant-garde art movement of Impressionism. Amanda McCavour: Bright Little Day Stars, opening Saturday, June 18, features

May 10, 2022

Columbia Museum of Art receives Connected Communities Grant Award

The Columbia Museum of Art (CMA) announces it has been selected as a recipient of a Connected Communities grant from Central Carolina Community Foundation (CCCF).

April 19, 2022

Mimi Jones jazzes up More Than Rhythm: A Black Music Series

Close out Jazz Appreciation Month in style at the Columbia Museum of Art Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art presents More Than Rhythm: A Black Music Series with Mimi Jones, the second program of the newly launched More Than Rhythm: A Black Music Series, on Friday, April 29, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. with galleries and bar open at 6:00 p.m. The evening focuses on America’s first global pop style in honor of Jazz Appreciation Month. Guest artist Mimi Jones speaks with Dr. Birgitta Johnson, ethnomusicologist and series host, and Dr. Colleen Clark, assistant professor of jazz at UofSC, about

March 31, 2022

Arts & Draughts is back

Beloved museum party returns to the Columbia Museum of Art Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art announces the epic return of Arts & Draughts , Columbia’s most creative party, on Friday, April 22, from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. A great opportunity to have fun with friends and community creatives, this Arts & Draughts — the first in-person one since 2019 — is held on Earth Day and features a fantastic lineup of live music, performances, food, libations, art activities, and art experiences from the booming Columbia cultural scene and beyond. Pylon Reenactment Society are the evening’s headliners

March 14, 2022

Gail Morrison honored with the CMA’s 2022 John Richard Craft Leadership Award

Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art is proud to have presented the 2022 John Richard Craft Leadership Award to Dr. Gail M. Morrison. Well-known in Columbia as a philanthropist and long-term supporter of the arts , Morrison epitomizes the values the CMA recognizes each year with the Craft Award. CMA Board President Cathy Love, CMA Board Member Dr. Suzanne R. Thorpe, and CMA Executive Director Della Watkins presented the award to Morrison at an elegant appreciation dinner celebrating her service on Tuesday, March 1. The Craft Award, named for the museum’s first director, is the highest

February 14, 2022

Sculpture shows from Auguste Rodin and Anila Quayyum Agha shine at the Columbia Museum of Art

Spring exhibitions offer two unique, radiant visions Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art will soon be aglow with two dynamic exhibitions of radiant sculpture from brilliant artists of international renown, both opening Saturday, February 19. Rodin: Contemplation and Dreams / Selections from the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Collections, organized and made possible by the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Foundation, features over 40 bronze works from Auguste Rodin (1840–1917), the legendary French artist whose innovative practices and revolutionary style ushered in modern Western sculpture. Anila

February 8, 2022

Black music series to launch at Columbia Museum of Art

More Than Rhythm, hosted by Dr. Birgitta Johnson, debuts March 5 Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art announces the launch of More Than Rhythm: A Black Music Series , hosted by ethnomusicologist Dr. Birgitta Johnson and debuting Saturday, March 5. The series, which offers free admission for students, premieres with a sampling of diverse sacred choral textures that exist in the Black sacred music tradition. Black music represents one of the oldest and broadest rivers that pours into America’s sonic ocean. Whether it be in pop or rock, classical or hip-hop, the history that the music of

January 31, 2022

Rodin and more coming to the Columbia Museum of Art this year

2022 exhibition schedule announced Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art announces its schedule of featured exhibitions for 2022, a broad assortment of exclusive, house-organized shows as well as traveling exhibitions, including concurrent sculpture shows from artists Auguste Rodin (1840–1917) and Anila Quayyum Agha (born 1965) opening in February. “This year’s exhibitions are uniquely positioned to move people,” says CMA Executive Director Della Watkins. “Visitors can meander among luminous sculpture and hovering textile installations, connect to human experiences at home and abroad

October 15, 2021

Gramophone Artist of the Year headed to the Columbia Museum of Art

Season premiere of CMA Chamber Music on Main features violinist James Ehnes Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art announces the triumphant return of CMA Chamber Music on Main , the critically acclaimed, intimate concert series in which music and art blend together to create an unforgettable evening. The 2021–2022 season kicks off with a bang on Monday, November 1, as pianist and Artistic Director Andrew Armstrong welcomes back his frequent collaborator and one of the most sought-after violinists on the international stage, James Ehnes, who recently won the 2021 Classical Music Artist of

September 20, 2021

Acclaimed 30 Americans headed to the Columbia Museum of Art

August 12, 2021

Columbia Museum of Art launches Binder podcast

First season features Hindsight 20/20 photographers and poets Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art announces the launch of Binder podcast , an original podcast produced in house and hosted by CMA writer-in-residence Ray McManus, who talks with writers, artists, photographers, and curators about what they create, why they make it, and what it means. The pilot episode premiered August 10, with new episodes available each Tuesday. “I think doing the podcast, it embodies the mission of the Columbia Museum of Art,” says McManus. “Taking what is going on with the programming inside the walls

July 30, 2021

Friends of African American Art & Culture introduces new board members

Columbia, S.C. – The Friends of African American Art & Culture (FAAAC) , an affinity group of the Columbia Museum of Art (CMA), is pleased to welcome four new community members to its board of directors for the 2021–2022 fiscal year. “I am personally delighted to welcome these new members to our board of directors,” says Therese Griffin, president of the FAAAC. “We are proud to have a diverse group of professionals in leadership positions to serve on our team. They represent a range of experience from a variety of fields. One of the things that they all have in common is a love for African

July 28, 2021

Columbia Museum of Art’s board of trustees adds eight new members

Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art announces eight members elected to serve on its board of trustees for the 2021 – 2022 term: Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, Joseph Bruce, Suzanne Hulst Clawson, Hamilton R. Grant, Therese Griffin, Cathy Love, Darrin Thomas, and Julian R. Williams. Artis has served as president of Benedict College since June 2017. A prolific speaker, critical thinker, and fierce advocate for educational access, Artis has been recognized for her work locally and nationally and is frequently engaged as a mentor, lecturer, and catalyst for strategic transformation. Bruce enjoyed

August 11, 2020

Columbia Museum of Art receives National Endowment for the Humanities award

Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art announces it has been selected as a recipient of a CARES Act economic stabilization grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The $150,000 award will support public programming associated with the upcoming major exhibition Visions from India: 21 st-Century Art from the Pizzuti Collection . “I am pleased that the Columbia Museum of Art has received funding allocated through the CARES Act,” says Congressman James E. Clyburn. “The museum serves as a community center, art studio and entertainment venue. We must continue to support them

July 10, 2019

See Van Gogh and His Inspirations this fall at the Columbia Museum of Art

Original, CMA-exclusive exhibition debuts October 4 Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art proudly announces the major exhibition Van Gogh and His Inspirations, on view Friday, October 4, 2019, through Sunday, January 12, 2020. Organized by the CMA and presented by the Blanchard Family, Van Gogh and His Inspirations is an original exhibition that brings the work of one of the most beloved artists in the world to Columbia, South Carolina, alongside a variety of handpicked paintings and drawings that shaped his vision. “Van Gogh and His Inspirations represents an exhilarating high-water

February 28, 2019

New Boyd Plaza to open during March First Thursday on Main

Free opening celebration courtesy of the Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Foundation Inc. Thursday, March 7 | Gates open at 5:00 p.m. | Celebration 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Columbia, S.C. – Located at the corner of Main and Hampton Streets, Boyd Plaza is in the final stages of an extensive renovation project, a gift to Columbia from the Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Foundation Inc. The Columbia Museum of Art announces a free party — also courtesy of the Boyd Foundation — to celebrate the completion of the new Boyd Plaza on Thursday, March 7, during First Thursday on Main. “The renovation of Boyd Plaza is

November 15, 2018

Luther Battiste honored with John Richard Craft Leadership Award

Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art is proud to have presented the 2018 John Richard Craft Leadership Award to Luther J. Battiste III. A community leader, philanthropist, and public servant, Battiste epitomizes the values the CMA recognizes each year with the Craft Award. Executive Director Della Watkins and Board of Trustees President Rachel Hodges presented the award to Battiste at an elegant appreciation dinner celebrating his service on Wednesday, November 14. The Craft Award, named for the CMA’s first director, is the highest honor the museum bestows. “Luther Battiste is a

November 6, 2018

The Renovation

The CMA went through extensive renovations in 2018 to provide more galleries, more studios, more spaces for programs, and a new entrance on Main Street. As you can imagine, it was quite a lot of work to protect priceless works of art during the construction! Read on for a behind-the-scenes look at what was involved in this massive transformation.

October 29, 2018

Jasper Johns' Gifts to CMA

The Columbia Museum of Art is proud to announce the exhibition Midcentury Masters: Jasper Johns’ Gifts to the CMA, a varied collection of 35 prints gifted to the CMA by Jasper Johns himself and shown in its entirety for the first time, on view Friday, November 16, 2018, to Sunday, February, 24, 2019. With several prints by Johns as well as the work of such postwar heavyweights as Robert Rauschenberg, Josef Albers, Roy Lichtenstein, Ellsworth Kelly, and Andy Warhol, plus archival materials documenting Johns’ time living and establishing his artistic identity in Columbia, this unique exhibition provides insight into the mind of South Carolina’s most famous artistic son.

August 7, 2018

Do you feel like Katie Pell does?

The Columbia Museum of Art announces the major exhibition Something’s Happening: The Big Art of Katie Pell, on view from Friday, August 17, through Sunday, October 28, 2018. Organized by the CMA, Pell’s first solo museum exhibition is an irreverent rite-of-passage narrative that uses the artist’s own life to explore the ordinary side of icons, the exceptional side of ordinary people, and the power of identifying your story.

May 25, 2018

Powerful exhibition shines light on Latino immigrants of South Carolina

The Columbia Museum of Art is proud to announce Ecos: Resonancias de Historias Latinas de Carolina del Sur (Echoes: Resonances of South Carolina Latino Stories) a collaborative multimedia art exhibition featuring the stories of Latino immigrants in the low country interpreted by 19 select Latino South Carolina visual artists, on view in the Community Gallery through Sunday, July 22, 2018.

May 10, 2018

What's Hidden in the Walls?

Have you ever come to Arts & Draughts at the CMA? Have you ever drawn on the walls in the Loft with chalk while it was still an unfinished space? If you have, you can probably technically tell your friends that your art is being preserved on the walls in an art museum. Well, not so much on them as in them. When putting up the drywall in the Loft, there was really no reason to remove the chalk from the cinderblock before framing out the space. So, the metal went up with your drawings still right there and the drywall was hung. Come see our new flexible event space in the Loft next time you

March 16, 2018

Ray McManus selected as writer-in-residence at the Columbia Museum of Art

New residency program launches April 8 with special reading in galleries Columbia, S.C. – The Columbia Museum of Art announces the launch of its inaugural Writer-in-Residence program, with award-winning poet Ray McManus selected to fill the titular role. Over his three-year term, McManus is charged with creating programs that promote literary art as a way to contemplate and connect with visual art. “Visual art doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and we don’t experience it that way either, so anytime we can connect the art on view with other disciplines like music or writing, it’s a win,” says Joelle

June 7, 2016

CMA Receives the National Medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Services

Representatives of the CMA were thrilled to visit the White House on June 1, 2016, to receive the National Medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. First Lady Michelle Obama presented the award to executive director Karen Brosius and community member Joyce-Rose Harris. This prestigious award is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries for service to their communities. Only 15 museums and 15 libraries across the nation reach the finalist stage for this award. As it happens, our friends at Richland Library were also among this year's finalists. We could not be