VMFA's The Dirty South

Curated by VMFA’s Valerie Cassel Oliver, this groundbreaking exhibition reveals aesthetic traditions of the African American South and their influences on art, music, and other forms of cultural expression over the last 100 years. Contemporary art and art, created by those not academically trained, converge with music in a relevant and culturally rich study that includes paintings, sculpture, assemblage, and collage, as well as the personal possessions of music icons such as Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, and others. The Dirty South makes visible the roots of Southern hip-hop culture, and reveals how the aesthetic traditions of the African American South have shaped visual art and music. The exhibition looks into the frameworks of landscape, religion, and the black body as deep meditative repositories of thought and expression. Get your exhibition tickets now! Also register for the Curator’s Opening Talk, a free virtual event on May 20. Click here to learn more.