Baton Rouge Gallery - center for contemporary art

Big, big thanks to the students from McKinley Elementary School who visited BRG today. They got a special treat for #225Day: to hear from Malaika Favorite about the stories behind her paintings in her current exhibition! The gallery was lit up with curious questions and excited interpretations and Malaika loved every second of it. The kids also got to hang out on the terrace and make some creations of their own after visiting with a local art legend. Can’t wait to have them back again in the future! #artseducation #batonrouge #brg East Baton Rouge Parish School System

Get to know one of BRG’s newest Artist Members - sculptor Michael G. Williams - by visiting his studio in Thibodeaux, LA where he uses metal, fabric, and wood to pay homage to southern Louisiana. Stop in before Feb 27 to see his debut exhibition, “Une Mèche” (alongside the work of Malaika Favorite and Tom Richard). ?? J. Dorcas Brandon, M. Ed. https://lnkd.in/g2FXiXy2

To the sweet mystery chalk writer who left this little note by our entrance this morning: Thank YOU! What a wonderful surprise to close out the year. And thank you to everyone who helped make 2024 such a memorable year at BRG. From the artists to the volunteers, the members to the visitors: We love ya and can’t wait to welcome you back in 2025.

As we close out an amazing year, we want to take a minute to welcome some incoming board members who will join us in 2025 and say thank you to some who've been a big part of BRG's evolution over the past few years. First, thank you to Wendy Green Daniels and Lani Boyd for agreeing to serve on BRG's Board of Directors, beginning a three-year term with the organization in 2025. Wendy is the President & CEO at Beechwood Residential, a staunch advocate for Baton Rouge, and a longtime supporter of the gallery. Meanwhile, Lani Boyd serves as the Deputy Commissioner of Elections for Louisiana's Secretary of State and has a diverse background that includes intellectual property law, art history, and brief stint as an educator. We also want to express our deep gratitude to Phillip LaFargue II and Kristen Hunter Macmurdo who are rolling off the board following two consecutive terms each. Phillip served as our Board Chair in back-to-back years and has been instrumental in a number of projects, most notably the BRG@BTR partnership that kicked off in 2021. Kristen leaves us having served on and chaired multiple committees and helping to introduce new faces to the board and the organization alike. We are grateful to all of our board members for their service, their dedication, and all that they bring to making BRG a stronger and more sustainable place for artists and audiences to connect.

A big, beautiful THANK YOU to all the beautiful people who made the last First Wednesday of 2024 such a great one! Despite some wet weather, Louisiana’s capital showed up to celebrate the latest from four of their own: Danielle E Burns, Brian Kelly, Rosemary Goodell, and Mary Lee Eggart! Special thanks also to Peter Simon & Raudol Palacios for the night’s sounds. If you missed it, join us this Sunday for ARTiculate (4pm, free) when the artists will tell the stories behind the work. The exhibition will also be on view through December 20. We love ya, Baton Rouge! See you in January for Surreal Salon 17!!! ?? Heather McClelland

Congrats and kudos to BRG Development Director Gwen Palagi on graduating from Leadership Baton Rouge tonight with the rest of the Class of 2024! Leadership Baton Rouge Alumni

While we install our next exhibition this weekend, we’re still riding high from last Friday’s KINETICS, presented by Hancock Whitney! We want to again thank all the artists, attendees, sponsors, and volunteers who helped the big night raise over $116,000 (a new record) to support the mission of connecting artists and audiences!! It was an incredible night with music, drinks, bites, laughs, and of course ART! For more than 55 years, BRG has been able to bring Baton Rouge and local living artists together because our community shows up and invests in how art makes our city better. KINETICS is just the latest example. Thank you, Baton Rouge! Images courtesy of the incomparable Heather McClelland

We’re proud to finally announce the newest additions to BRG’s Artist Member roster!! This year we welcome Jill Stoll, Edgar Cano Lopez, and Scott Andresen! These three Louisiana-based artists will join more than 70 others who share their work with audiences at BRG and help drive the artistic direction of the organization. You can learn more about these three and all of BRG’s incredible Artist Members at https://lnkd.in/gNqgtfEv. Stay tuned for debut exhibitions from our newest members beginning in 2025.

?? Thank you to everyone who came out last night to be a part of an unforgettable, record-breaking, good-doing KINETICS, presented by Hancock Whitney! ?? Baton Rouge’s premier live art auction showcased over 30 incredible pieces from BRG Artist Members that all found lovely new homes! ??? All the proceeds will go directly to the featured artists and to support BRG’s exhibitions and programming for the coming year! ?? Thank you to Blend Baton Rouge, Hayride Scandal: Whisk-e-y & Craft Cocktails, and Mestizo Louisiana Mexican Cuisine for the delicious sips during "The Art of the Cocktail.” ?? Thank you to Soji Modern Asian for supplying last night’s tasty bites! ?? J. Dorcas Brandon, M. Ed. Thank you to everyone who was a part of an amazing night of art and for art in support of creativity and community! More pics and video to come!

BIG NEWS! Earlier today the 2024 Southeastern Museums Conference (which encompasses a 12-state region) recognized last summer’s “And We Went: 60 Years After the Baton Rouge Swim-In” with a Gold Award (First Place) for exhibitions! The show, which was a joint partnership between Baton Rouge Gallery, Dialogue on Race Louisiana, and BREC (as well as many more supporting and programmatic partners), was curated by Jonell Logan and sought to shed light on the often overlooked story of the Swim-In, the contemporary legacy of segregated swimming, and grapple with a site-specific history that also played out across our nation in the 1960s. Our infinite thanks to all the artists, sponsors, storytellers, partners, activists, and volunteers who made this show so impactful. It was an honor for us to host the exhibition, to – in concert with our partners - bring its companion programming to life, and to celebrate those who stood up to the unjust practices of the day. Special thanks to Debra George, who was part of the Swim-In as an 11 year-old girl and was absolutely integral to the planning and success of “And We Went.” It was truly special to have her join us today to accept the award and share in this special moment with us and our partners. To learn more about “And We Went: 60 Years After the Baton Rouge Swim-In,” please visit https://lnkd.in/grMzPr3y.