An invisible thread runs through each gallery at the Georgia Museum of Art. Paintings, artifacts, and decorative pieces are all on display for visitors to stop, look, and interpret the meaning behind each one. The thread binds each person to the art, and this mindful connection brings life and inspiration to each piece.
The museum opened its doors to the public in 1948 with 100 paintings donated by the museum’s founder, Alfred Heber Holbrook. After retiring from practicing law in New York at the age of 70, Holbrook immersed himself in the world of art – sparked by an interest in visiting museums. After meeting University of Georgia art director Lamar Dodd and attending courses, he was inspired to found the Georgia Museum of Art in 1945.
As the museum celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, its permanent collection of nearly 17,000 pieces continues to grow. Patrons can enjoy the collections for free by requesting a ticket on the museum’s website and spend as little or as much time at the museum as they like.
Hillary Brown, the museum’s communications director, notes that the artworks offer visitors free inspiration. Students can take a mental break between lessons and be inspired by the history and beauty of each piece.
“Come out, enjoy slow viewing, see something interesting, beautiful, and educate yourself,” Brown said.
Thirteen galleries are currently on display and include works by early American, Asian, European and African artists in the permanent collection. The collection is scattered with famous pieces by household names such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Lamar Dodd and Pablo Picasso.
Some temporary exhibitions include works by 17th-century Spanish Baroque painters, an art gallery of African-American artists donated by Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson, and the Princeton University Art Museum’s recent installation of works entitled Object Lessons in American Art ‘ which will be on view through May 14, 2023.
The museum also features a sculpture garden in the open-air gallery exhibition, which features work by female sculptors only, including the colorful, geometric works of Jane Manus.
Michael Lachowski, who works for the museum’s public relations, said that in the 80s it was named the official art museum of Georgia because of its extensive collection and efforts to preserve art education – and this status attracts visitors from all walks of life to Athens.
“Standing with and being between original works of art can just be an experience in its own right, it can be educational, it can be historical, but it’s really just a genuine experience that cannot be compared [going] on a computer, on a smartphone, or in a book or magazine,” Lachowski said.
As Lachowski traced the timeline of each piece in the rooms, he pointed out which of the museum’s collection are the most notable, beginning with the Italian Renaissance and ending with modern works in the temporary gallery.
1. “Madonna and Child” by Marco Basaiti
“Madonna and Child” by Marco Basaiti. (Courtesy/Georgia Museum of Art)
This painting by Basaiti from around 1500 shows the Madonna and Child holding a bird. At the time, this was a symbol of foreshadowing his death as an adult.
2. Tallulah Falls by George Cooke
Located in the mountains of northeast Georgia, Tallulah Falls has long been a popular attraction for settlers and travelers awed by the beauty of the falls. In 1841, Cooke captured this beauty, showing three of the four falls from a high vantage point that plays on the viewer’s sense of dread – a stark contrast to the reward of seeing the falls in their full beauty at this height.
3. “The Confidence” by Elizabeth Jane Gardner Bouguereau
Bouguereau challenged the male-dominated art field in the late 18th century by disguising himself as a man to attend an all-male drawing school in France. Representing a powerful feminine force, her 1880 work La Confidence depicts two women sharing a secret under a divine icon, promoting themes of privacy, trust and femininity.
4. “Red Barn” by Georgia O’Keeffe
O’Keeffe’s 1921 painting of the red barn in Lake George, New York belonged to the family estate of the renowned art dealer Alfred Stieglitz. O’Keeffe and Stieglitz began collaborating in 1916 and eventually married in 1924. Her famous painting focuses on composition and draws inspiration from the works of Arthur Wesley Dow and his aesthetic philosophy of art.
5. “Self-Portrait” by Lamar Dodd
“Self-Portrait” by Lamar Dodd. (Courtesy/Georgia Museum of Art)
Dodd painted this self-portrait of himself in 1936. Dodd was born on September 22, 1909 in Fairburn, Georgia. He was appointed to the UGA School of Art in 1937 as part of a national movement to bring artists to the schools’ faculties. In his day, he consolidated all the fine arts into one department and even enrolled the school’s first master’s students.
6. “Children at Play” by Jacob Lawrence
In 1947, Lawrence, a black artist, used abstract design to illustrate an everyday scene in Harlem after World War II. Lawrence fills the painting with the scene of people and does not include a horizon line to mimic how the scene would be viewed on the streets of Harlem.
“Children at Play” by Jacob Lawrence. (Courtesy/Georgia Museum of Art)
7. “Sureke Joint” by Vertis Hayes
Black artist Vertis Hayes’ 1946 social realist piece “Juke Joint” depicts a juke joint somewhere outside of Memphis, Tennessee. A juke joint is a Southern eatery known for good music, dancing and a place for community. The composition of this painting focuses on the joint and seems to come alive through the curved lines and scenes of people.
8. “Twilight” by Ellis Wilson
“Twilight” by Ellis Wilson. (Courtesy/Georgia Museum of Art)
Painted by black artist Ellis Wilson circa 1950, “Dusk” is a collection of silhouettes depicting a black family. It is displayed in a room with art from the same period, but the art mainly features white subjects and artists. Dusk brings the depiction of black families to the history of the space.
These works of art demonstrate the diverse collection of the museum. Each piece offers a slice of unique history that allows the viewer to connect with the artist, interpret their thoughts and travel to that point in time. This personal connection to the piece gives inspiration to the viewer and gives meaning to its creation.
This article was originally published in our Spring/Summer 2023 Visitor Guide.
