SAVE THE DATE

SEASON OPENING: The [Fall] ReFRAME
Thursday, September 29 // 5 - 9PM
FREE Admission

Join us at The ReFRAME, an immersive celebration with a fresh perspective, inspired by art and culture from around the world.

As the seasons change, so do our galleries! Come see what’s new at the BMA as we enliven our art-filled spaces with music, performances, and curator-led gallery talks. Inspired by our current exhibition, Light Play, this evening will celebrate the role of light in art and cultures across the globe. Check out the slate of programming!

OPENING SOON

Hand-Held: The Four Seasons in Chinese Painting
Opens Saturday, September 3

Through the lens of the four seasons—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—this exhibition explores the intimate visual storytelling experience found within small-scale Chinese landscape paintings. Whether formatted in a popular fan shape, as an album leaf, a handscroll, or a glossy ceramic, the paintings featured in this exhibition were intended to be studied up-close and to be handled. Many of the paintings combine detailed images and the elevated art form of calligraphy with inscriptions that describe painting styles, provide dedication to friends and family, and offer the date when the work was made. Journey through the seasons, from the blossoming peach trees and greening mountains of spring to the pillowy surfaces of newly fallen snow in a winter landscape, in this charming exhibition of Chinese painting.

ON VIEW

Wall to Wall: Rico Gatson Presented by PNC
Free Admission

The second iteration of Wall to Wall presented by PNC features Brooklyn-based contemporary artist Rico Gatson, who transformed the walls of the Museum lobby with a colorful, life-size image of iconic Birmingham figure, Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, and an abstract composition on an adjacent lobby wall inspired by Sun Ra.

On Friday, August 5, guests attending Museum’s signature event, Art on the Rocks, were invited to paint alongside Rico in the lobby to help complete the installation. Through community engagement, Gatson hopes to bring the energy from the Civil Rights movement into the present.

Light Play
Free Admission

Light Play is an exhibition drawn from the Museum’s permanent collection that shows the influence and use of light in art.

In this exhibition, artists examine the many meanings of ‘light’ and ‘play’ through medium, expression, meaning, and form. Light Play brings together contemporary artists and works exploring the manipulation, effects, and emotions of light, including the double meaning of the word ‘light,’ by featuring works that are lively or humorous in subject matter.

Together, these works reflect the expanse of contemporary artworks incorporating light. Whether using it literally, metaphorically, or conceptually, each artist radiates the profound influence of the power of light.

Ways of Seeing: Sports and Games
Free Admission

Ways of Seeing: Sports and Games is an exhibition drawn from across the Museum’s permanent collection that shows the influence of sports and games on art. From ancient to contemporary, art has emphasized the importance of sports to societies globally. While images of athletes and games have had major impacts on artistic practices worldwide, art has also shaped the image of the athlete in popular consciousness. Drawing a parallel between the artists and athletes, this exhibition reveals the longstanding relationship between art and sports and games.

A Gift of Photographs from John Hagefstration
Free Admission

The photographs in Birmingham-based collector John Hagefstration’s gift of almost 300 works were made from the early twentieth century to the present. They capture significant episodes in the development of the medium, allowing the BMA to better represent the history of movements, schools of photography, and the work of individual artists in new depth. His collection also expands the diverse perspectives featured in our collection, including new works by Alabama artists, women artists, and LGBTQIA+ artists. Visit this focus installation of fourteen photographs to see how the Museum’s collections have recently grown.

Expanding Darshan: Manjari Sharma, To See and Be Seen
Free Admission

Bringing together the striking work of rising star—global contemporary artist Manjari Sharma—with the diverse historic collections of the Birmingham Museum of Art, this exhibition introduces nine of the most significant deities of the Hindu pantheon and their contemporary relevance in art and faith, serving as a gateway to the concept of darshan—seeing and being seen by the divine. The vibrant, varied, and sometimes contradictory stories of these gods—as well as their familial relationships with each other—are shared through the works in this exhibition.

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SAVE THE DATE

SEASON OPENING: The [Fall] ReFRAME
Thursday, September 29 // 5 - 9PM
FREE Admission

Join us at The ReFRAME, an immersive celebration with a fresh perspective, inspired by art and culture from around the world.

As the seasons change, so do our galleries! Come see what’s new at the BMA as we enliven our art-filled spaces with music, performances, and curator-led gallery talks. Inspired by our current exhibition, Light Play, this evening will celebrate the role of light in art and cultures across the globe. Check out the slate of programming!

OPENING SOON

Hand-Held: The Four Seasons in Chinese Painting
Opens Saturday, September 3

Through the lens of the four seasons—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—this exhibition explores the intimate visual storytelling experience found within small-scale Chinese landscape paintings. Whether formatted in a popular fan shape, as an album leaf, a handscroll, or a glossy ceramic, the paintings featured in this exhibition were intended to be studied up-close and to be handled. Many of the paintings combine detailed images and the elevated art form of calligraphy with inscriptions that describe painting styles, provide dedication to friends and family, and offer the date when the work was made. Journey through the seasons, from the blossoming peach trees and greening mountains of spring to the pillowy surfaces of newly fallen snow in a winter landscape, in this charming exhibition of Chinese painting.

ON VIEW

Wall to Wall: Rico Gatson Presented by PNC
Free Admission

The second iteration of Wall to Wall presented by PNC features Brooklyn-based contemporary artist Rico Gatson, who transformed the walls of the Museum lobby with a colorful, life-size image of iconic Birmingham figure, Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, and an abstract composition on an adjacent lobby wall inspired by Sun Ra.

On Friday, August 5, guests attending Museum’s signature event, Art on the Rocks, were invited to paint alongside Rico in the lobby to help complete the installation. Through community engagement, Gatson hopes to bring the energy from the Civil Rights movement into the present.

Light Play
Free Admission

Light Play is an exhibition drawn from the Museum’s permanent collection that shows the influence and use of light in art.

In this exhibition, artists examine the many meanings of ‘light’ and ‘play’ through medium, expression, meaning, and form. Light Play brings together contemporary artists and works exploring the manipulation, effects, and emotions of light, including the double meaning of the word ‘light,’ by featuring works that are lively or humorous in subject matter.

Together, these works reflect the expanse of contemporary artworks incorporating light. Whether using it literally, metaphorically, or conceptually, each artist radiates the profound influence of the power of light.

Ways of Seeing: Sports and Games
Free Admission

Ways of Seeing: Sports and Games is an exhibition drawn from across the Museum’s permanent collection that shows the influence of sports and games on art. From ancient to contemporary, art has emphasized the importance of sports to societies globally. While images of athletes and games have had major impacts on artistic practices worldwide, art has also shaped the image of the athlete in popular consciousness. Drawing a parallel between the artists and athletes, this exhibition reveals the longstanding relationship between art and sports and games.

A Gift of Photographs from John Hagefstration
Free Admission

The photographs in Birmingham-based collector John Hagefstration’s gift of almost 300 works were made from the early twentieth century to the present. They capture significant episodes in the development of the medium, allowing the BMA to better represent the history of movements, schools of photography, and the work of individual artists in new depth. His collection also expands the diverse perspectives featured in our collection, including new works by Alabama artists, women artists, and LGBTQIA+ artists. Visit this focus installation of fourteen photographs to see how the Museum’s collections have recently grown.

Expanding Darshan: Manjari Sharma, To See and Be Seen
Free Admission

Bringing together the striking work of rising star—global contemporary artist Manjari Sharma—with the diverse historic collections of the Birmingham Museum of Art, this exhibition introduces nine of the most significant deities of the Hindu pantheon and their contemporary relevance in art and faith, serving as a gateway to the concept of darshan—seeing and being seen by the divine. The vibrant, varied, and sometimes contradictory stories of these gods—as well as their familial relationships with each other—are shared through the works in this exhibition.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

Classical Indian Music Concert
Thursday, August 25 // 6:30 - 8PM
Free Admission

Join us Thursday evening for a Classical Indian Concert featuring Grammy Award winner Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and Subhen Chatterjee.

Bhatt invented the mohan veena, a highly modified archtop guitar, and established his instrument as an important one in mainstream Indian classical music. His electrifying performances have charmed audiences worldwide.

Subhen Chatterjee bases his tablā playing style on the Lucknow gharana, one of the six main tablā styles, which he learned from the illustrious tablā maestro Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri. Register now!

Highlights Tour // Seeing Color with EnChroma Glasses
Sunday, August 28 // 2PM
Free Admission

Join Angela May, Associate Director of Learning and Engagement, for this unique experience. Using EnChroma glasses, this free tour will enable visitors with color blindness to see the colorful art in the BMA’s galleries. These glasses work best for individuals less able to distinguish the colors green and red.

Due to the limited number of EnChroma glasses, we ask participants to register in advance. To sign up for this tour, please email access@artsbma.org.

ArtBreak // Light Play
Wednesday, September 7 // 12 - 12:30PM
Free Admission

Join Curatorial Assistant and exhibition curator, Hina Zaidi, for an overview of the Museum’s recent Light Play exhibition. Light Play draws from the museum’s permanent collection to show the influence and use of light in art. Register now!

2022 Annual Moon Viewing Festival
Saturday, September 10 // 6 - 8:30PM
Free Admission

The Moon Viewing Festival honors the harvest moon, which is the full moon nearest the autumn equinox that is traditionally celebrated across Asian cultures. Join BMA’s Asian Art Society for a celebration open to all ages of the mid-autumn harvest moon. This celebration includes traditional music, performances, art-making activities, and delicious mooncakes! Register now!

Latin American Heritage Festival
Saturday, September 17 // 10AM - 2PM
Free Admission

Celebrate Latin culture at the Birmingham Museum of Art during our sixth annual Latin American Heritage Festival in collaboration with Fiesta Birmingham. Join us for a day of festivities, featuring Spanish-language gallery tours and delicious Latin cuisine. Enjoy family-friendly art activities, face painting, and much more! Register now!

Self-Soothe Saturday
Saturday, September 24 // 10AM - 12PM
Free Admission

Self-Soothe Saturday invites visitors to invigorate the body, mind, and spirit with guided yoga, meditation, and a wellness workshop designed to educate, enlighten and revitalize.

For this rendition of the quarterly program, we explore the ability to heal through meditation in order to shift one’s perspective, even through trauma and suffering. Sanovia Muhammad, the author of A Journey of Forgiveness: Disowning 3 Generations of Violence, shares her testimony of escaping personal trauma through meditation. Muhammad also shares meditative techniques of breath work, stretching, and affirmations one can use to rehabilitate their mind, body, and soul in traumatic times. Register now!