Beauford Delaney's Metamorphosis
January 26 =May 1, 2023
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Metamorphosis into Freedom examines the artistic evolution of modern painter and Knoxville, Tennessee native Beauford Delaney as influenced by the places where he lived—Knoxville, New York City, and Paris. As Delaney moved from being part of the Harlem Renaissance to embracing the tenets of Abstract Expressionism, his work developed and shifted – ranging from portraits to intense abstractions. While following the progression of Delaney's career and artistic style, the exhibition also explores the deep friendship between the artist and writer James Baldwin and how their ongoing intellectual exchange shaped one another's creative output and worldviews.

Really Free chronicles the life and work of contemporary, self-taught artist Nellie Mae Rowe through her imaginative works on paper, sculptures made from found and experimental materials, and an artful examination of her "Playhouse" – the striking environment Rowe created in her home and yard on a busy thoroughfare just outside of Atlanta. This vivid exhibitionis the first-ever exhibition to consider Rowe's practice as a radical act of self-expression and liberation in the post-civil rights-era South. Really Free features Rowe's colorful, and at times simple, sketches and explores themes in her work such as depictions of women, her childhood, images of her garden, and her experimentation with materials.
The Hunter Museum will also host events, including drop-in art making experiences for families, dance performances, and conversations about Chattanooga's community that explore the issues central to the art featured in the special exhibitions. Visit huntermuseum.org for a complete list of exhibition-related events.

Explore the work of photography greats Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen, Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Paul Caponigro and others, all drawn from the private collection of Dr. David Dennard. Dennard, an avid photographer, was inspired by the Photo-secessionists, pictorialists and especially the transcendental work of Paul Caponigro and began slowly building a collection that covers a wide range of early to late 20th century works. This exhibition considers the significance of these movements in American photography and the influence on artists today. A complementary small exhibition highlighting additional works by Paul Caponigro will be in Gallery 5.

Organized by the Hunter Museum of American Art.

Passing Through features the works of Birmingham-based artist Amy Pleasant. Pleasant’s large-scale canvases and graphic paintings overtake the walls of the Hunter’s historic mansion stairwell, welcoming visitors to the early American galleries. Her figurative silhouettes deal with complex subjects, connecting traditions of American portraiture with contemporary themes of identity and human behaviors.

Amy Pleasant has been recognized by such prestigious organizations as the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation and Joan Mitchell Foundation.