Where Being Takes Root

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"Where Being Takes Root: Works by Southern Artists From the Larry M. and Gwendolyn E. Walker Collection" celebrates the artistic vision, mentorship and lasting cultural influence of acclaimed artist, GSU professor emeritus and former Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design Director Larry M. Walker (1935–2023), whose personal collection of over 300 works was gifted to the university following his death. Curated by Lauren Jackson Harris, the exhibition considers the South not merely as a geographic location but as a lived experience that shapes artistic methods and ways of seeing. Drawing from the Walker Collection, the exhibition presents works by artists whose practices are deeply rooted in the region’s history, culture and environment. The exhibition spans two gallery spaces: a large gallery featuring works from the broader collection, and an intimate gallery dedicated to the Walker family. Artists on view include Charles White, Radcliffe Bailey, Kevin Cole, Bethany Collins, Benny Andrews, David Driskell, Steve Prince and Kara Walker, among many others, and luminaries who were friends, colleagues and mentees of Larry Walker throughout his remarkable career. The exhibition is generously supported by Forward Arts Foundation and the David, Helen, and Marian Woodward Fund.