A Bayou State of Mind
On view September 4, 2025–January 4, 2026

A Bayou State of Mind showcases the rich tapestry of Louisiana’s culture, traditions, history, land, and spirit, as a diverse mix of artists respond to and envision the state’s unique character. From the deep-rooted perspectives of natives such as Malaika Favorite, John T. Scott, and Shirley Rabé Masinter, to the evocative impressions of those captivated during brief encounters, like Nathalie Miebach and Richard Misrach, the objects relate intimate responses to a complex environment.

A highlight of the exhibition is The Bayou Collection, a series of forty paintings by renowned artist George Rodrigue. Originally created to accompany a compilation of ghost stories by author Chris Segura, Rodrigue’s imaginative renderings are steeped in his signature Cajun style. His labor of love, spanning three years, includes the first appearance of Rodrigue’s iconic “Blue Dog”—his cherished spaniel-terrier, Tiffany—marking a defining moment in the artist's career. Additional artists included in the exhibition: Ben Depp, Johanna Warwick, James Michalopoulos, Nathalie Miebach, Vitus Shell, Jesse Allison, Derrick Ostrenko, Ron Bechet, John T. Scott, Shirley Rabé Masinter, Malaika Favorite, Carl Joe Williams, Eric Waters, Gene Koss, Hunt Slonem, Rolland Golden, Tina Freeman, Carrie Mae Weems, Janice Sachse, Morgan Elmore, Jr., Robert Warrens, Letitia Huckaby, Jonathan Bachman, Richard Misrach, Debbie Fleming Caffery, Dawn Dedeaux, David Freese, Thomas Neff, Michael Frederic Daugherty, Sidney Garrett, Steve Rucker, and George Rodrigue.

The Sculpture of Scott, Payton, Hayden, and Bechet
On view October 9, 2025–January 25, 2026

They were friends, mentors, and muses. They were pivotal figures in the modern art movement emerging from the southeastern part of Louisiana. They were dedicated scholars and educators. Four men, Frank Hayden, John T. Scott, Martin Payton, and Ron Bechet—artists intertwined through a series of experiences that played out over five decades. They share a common artistic language—an exploration of Black heritage imbued with private symbolism, expression, and inspiration. Hayden reflects on his deep spiritual awareness, and reverence for faith, family, and Civil Rights. Scott’s work echoes the sights and sounds of his beloved New Orleans and his Caribbean legacy. Payton reclaims scrap metal, fabricating improvised compositions of rhythmic forms tangled with African symbolism. Bechet’s lyrical works investigate the delicacy of nature and the human experience, instilled with personal connections to the heritage of place.

Frank Hayden (1935–1988), a Memphis native, studied at Xavier University before earning degrees at Notre Dame and Iowa State, later becoming a longtime faculty member at Southern University in Baton Rouge. At Xavier in the 1950s, Hayden was mentored by Numa Rousseve and Sister Mary Lurana Neely—teachers who also deeply influenced John T. Scott (1940–2007), who returned to Xavier to teach after earning his MFA. Scott inspired Martin Payton (b. 1948), who studied at Xavier and later at Otis Art Institute before succeeding Hayden at Southern University in 1990. Scott and Payton remained close collaborators, completing major projects like Spirit House in 2006. Ron Bechet (b. 1956) first met Scott at the University of New Orleans and, after Yale, taught alongside him at Xavier, where they shared a studio and deep friendship until Hurricane Katrina displaced Scott in 2005; Bechet continues to teach at Xavier today.

This exhibition highlights the sculptural works of these four modern masters. Although individually they have their own artistic voice, they share the bonds of kinship—with each learning and gleaning inspiration from one another.