Southern Visions explores regional identity through art created during the early 1900s. This collection features works in a variety of media, including paintings and etchings, that document the landscapes and daily lives of people living in the American South.

By highlighting both local and traveling artists, the exhibit provides a visual history of the era's unique social and environmental character. These works serve as historical records, capturing the evolving scenery and identity of the Southern states through a documentary lens.

This exhibit also marks the first public appearance of significant new acquisitions donated by philanthropist John Welsh, alongside signature works from the Wright Collection of Southern Art.

This landmark exhibition, on loan from the Gibbes Museum of Art, celebrates Twiggs’ remarkable journey, highlighting his unique insights into Southern experience. Despite his legacy as a trailblazer, Leo Twiggs has never had a full retrospective in his home state of South Carolina until now. The exhibition lauds his visionary career, showcasing his iconic Batik technique and profound reflections on the American experience across six decades of work.

A native of St. Stephen, South Carolina, Leo Twiggs received his BA degree from Claflin University, studied at the Art Institute of Chicago, and received his MA degree from New York University, where he studied with the famed painter and muralist Hale Woodruff. He received his Doctorate in Art from the University of Georgia. He has exhibited over 75 one-person shows, and his work has received international recognition with exhibits at the Studio Museum in New York and US Embassies in Rome, Dakar, and Bern, Switzerland, among other venues. He has been widely published in textbooks and featured in several TV documentaries. “Most of my works have deep roots in my experiences growing up in the South, but my intent, as always, is to explore the human condition. It is this exploration, I believe, that makes art endearing and enduring.”, said Dr. Twiggs when asked about his art.

The public is invited the opening reception of the exhibit on the evening of Thursday, June 11, 2026 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.