Columbia State’s Pryor Art Gallery is presenting its first virtual exhibit, featuring six local and regional African American artists and their work.  

The exhibit, “An Artist’s World,” takes viewers into the artists’ studios as they present and discuss their work, styles and techniques, as well as share their inspirations and life experiences that have influenced their artistic philosophy. 

Rusty Summerville, Pryor Art Gallery interim curator, traveled to the studios, documenting his visits and the artists’ stories.  

“It has been a joy, traveling between Nashville and Atlanta to visit with the African American artists featured in the virtual exhibit,” Summerville said. “Each studio visited was as unique as the featured artist, as different as individual styles, and distinctive as each artist’s use of color, composition and subject matter. The one constant was the hospitality shown by all. In addition to being a wonderful and informative project, it has also been just plain fun.”

The featured artists include Michael McBride and Elisheba Israel Mrozik from Nashville; James Spearman from Columbia; Felix Maxwell from Lewisburg; Jahni Moore from Huntsville, Alabama; and Samuel Dunson from Kennesaw, Georgia.

This virtual event is made possible by an Arts Build Communities grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission and support from the Columbia State Foundation. 

Check out the exhibit at www.ColumbiaState.edu/artistworld

For more information about the exhibit, or the Pryor Art Gallery, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/Pryor-Gallery.