Upcoming Exhibitions
Tootle, Written by Gertrude Crampton. Illustrated by Tibor Gergely ©1945, Random House
Golden Legacy: Original Art from 80 Years of Golden Books
February 27–May 25, 2025
The LSU Museum of Art is thrilled to announce Golden Legacy: Original Art from 80 Years of Golden Books, a vibrant and nostalgic exhibition opening on February 27, 2025. This delightful exhibition features sixty original illustrations that have captivated generations, taking visitors on a journey through the rich history and creative artistry of Little Golden Books.
Launched in 1942—the first full year of America’s involvement in the Second World War—Little Golden Books made high quality illustrated books available at affordable prices for the first time to millions of young children and their parents. Among the artists who contributed to the ambitious series were greats of the European émigré community (including Garth Williams, Feodor Rojankovsky, and Tibor Gergely) who had gathered in New York as the European situation worsened; alumni of the Walt Disney Studios (including Gustaf Tenggren, Martin Provensen, J. P. Miller, and Mary Blair); and such American originals as Leonard Weisgard, Eloise Wilkin, Elizabeth Orton Jones, Richard Scarry, and Hilary Knight. This exhibition also spotlights contemporary artists like Dan Yaccarino, continuing the legacy of inspiring children to love books and art.
Organized by the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature in Abilene, Texas, Golden Legacy features original artwork from timeless classics, offering a closer look at the stories behind the images. Families, art enthusiasts, and nostalgic fans of all ages are invited to relive the magic of picture-book classics such as The Poky Little Puppy, Tootle, Home for a Bunny, The Color Kittens, I Can Fly, and more.
This exhibition is also supported by a generous grant from the Pennington Family Foundation.
Ed Smith, On Our Way, 2024. Oil on canvas. Courtesy of the artist.
In Focus: Artwork by LSU Faculty
On view April 24–August 3, 2025
The exhibition In Focus features art by LSU tenure and tenure-track professors from the School of Art, showcasing the vast range of talent in areas such as digital technology, painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, and printmaking. Their work sets the standard for students and demonstrates the University’s commitment to training the next generation of artists, providing them with the skills, vision, and understanding needed to succeed in a world of accelerating cultural and social change, innovation, and rapid globalization.
The LSU College of Art & Design, which includes the School of Architecture, the School of Art, the School of Interior Design, and the Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture, has a rich history dating back to the early 1930s. The Department of Architectural Engineering was established that decade, offering a four-year curriculum. The fine arts program emerged in the 1930s within the College of Arts & Sciences, offering training in painting, sculpture, and ceramics, alongside an emerging interior design curriculum. In 1965, LSU’s School of Environmental Design was founded, uniting three programs—architecture, landscape architecture, and fine arts, with the pivotal reiteration of the College occurring in 1979, with the founding of the College of Design, later renamed the College of Art & Design.
The School of Art continues to thrive as a center for innovation, artistic expression, and creative exploration. One of the largest and most comprehensive art schools in the region, the program employs dozens of accomplished professional artists, designers, and researchers, working in a wide range of media.
Participating LSU professors include: Ed Smith, Kelli Scott Kelley, Johanna Warwick, Jeremiah Ariaz, Brendan Harmon, Denyce Celentano, Scott Andresen, Loren Schwerd, Michaelene Walsh, Kristine Thompson, Lauren Graciela Cardenás, Andrew Shurtz, Courtney Barr, Will Maxen, Derick Ostrenko, Leslie Koptcho, Lynne Joddrell Baggett, and Luisa Fernanda Restrepo Pérez.
OTHER UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS
Carved & Crafted: The Art of Letterpress
June 12–September 21, 2025
Explore the bold, vibrant world of letterpress prints in this exhibition featuring works by the historic Hatch Show Print in Nashville, Tennessee, alongside compositions by artists Jim Sherraden and Jon Langford. The show exemplifies the iconic Hatch block printing iconography, renowned for its vivid, hand-crafted designs. Blending traditional techniques with contemporary motifs, these striking, one-of-a-kind pieces celebrate the legacy of Nashville's music and art scene.
A Bayou State of Mind
September 4, 2025–January 4, 2026
A presentation of works exploring how artists react to, portray, and depict Louisiana. Showcasing photography, paintings, drawings, prints, and sculpture completed by prominent artists active in the last 100 years, including George Rodrigue’s Bayou Series, a forty-piece collection of his early Cajun-style paintings with the first depiction of his iconic Blue Dog, Tiffany.
For more information on exhibitions, please email LSUMOA chief curator Michelle Schulte at mschulte@lsu.edu