how structures hold history

Home, memory and belonging are central to Beverly Buchanan’s art. Inspired by the southern vernacular architecture of her surroundings, she created vibrant drawings, assemblages and sculptures that embody the spirit of place. Her work reflects an interest in how structures hold history — both personal and collective — using found materials, bold color and expressive mark-making to evoke the resilience of southern communities. While living in Athens from 1987 to 2010, she produced art that honored everyday spaces and the people who inhabited them.

This exhibition celebrates the Georgia Museum of Art’s growing collection of Buchanan’s work, highlighting the depth of our holdings and our commitment to preserving her legacy. “Beverly’s Athens,”(opens in new tab) a concurrent exhibition at the Athenaeum(opens in new tab) (the Lamar Dodd School of Art’s downtown gallery space), further explores Buchanan’s time in the city, providing other perspectives on her enduring legacy and artistic practice.

Curator
Shawnya L. Harris, Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson Curator of African American and African Diasporic Art