Columbia Museum of Art November 2025 Exhibitions and Events Calendar

Columbia Museum of Art November 2025 Calendar

EXHIBITIONS

Keith Haring: Radiant Vision
On view through February 15, 2026
Keith Haring (1958–1990) emerged as a shooting star of the New York art scene in the 1980s. His signature images include dancing figures, a radiant baby, a barking dog, a flying saucer, large hearts, and figures with televisions for heads.

In the early ’80s, Haring created chalk drawings on the unused advertising panels in New York City subway stations. These drawings represented a unique conflation of studio practice and public art, cartoons and graffiti. They became familiar to commuters, who would often stop to engage with the artist. He also attracted the attention of city authorities, who arrested him for vandalism on numerous occasions.
Haring was socially conscious, and his murals often reflected his position on social issues. He sought to raise awareness of AIDS, fought against the proliferation of illegal drugs, and advocated for the end of Apartheid.

His simply drawn figures were soon to be found on watches and cars, T-shirts and shopping bags, turning Haring into one of the best-known artists of his generation. Radiant Vision is a collection of drawings on paper, lithographs, silkscreens, posters, and other items that illustrate the entire span of Keith Haring’s short but prolific career.

Single Source Traveling Exhibition provided by: PAN Art Connections. Keith Haring: Radiant Vision is presented through the support of our generous sponsors and grantors. Silver sponsor: Dominion Energy. Bronze sponsors: Dr. Suzanne R. Thorpe and Dr. John W. Baynes. Friends sponsors: Joseph Bruce; Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd; Metro Wines Asheville; Beth and Matthew Richardson; Sandy and Sam McGuckin. Grantors: City of Columbia; Experience Columbia SC; Richland County Government; South Carolina Arts Commission; Discover South Carolina.

GALLERY LIGHTING PROJECT

The CMA is undertaking a legacy project in its 75th anniversary year (2025) to undergo a total gallery lighting renovation and fresh reinstallation of art throughout all the galleries. The CMA’s gallery lights date back to 1998, when the museum first moved to its current location on Main Street. That system is now obsolete and, to best preserve and present the art, it must be replaced.

To accommodate this exciting new project, all second-floor Collection galleries are temporarily closed. First-floor exhibition galleries have reopened. This is a significant step as we prepare to bring visitors an enhanced and enriched experience.

Rest assured, the CMA continues to offer exhibitions, programs, events, and rentals throughout this period, ensuring that the museum remains a vibrant hub of culture and community. Learn more here.

PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
To purchase tickets or register for classes, visit columbiamuseum.org or call 803-799-2810.

Palmetto Luna Arts’ Day of the Dead Celebration
Saturday, November 1 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Join the CMA and Palmetto Luna Arts on Boyd Plaza to celebrate Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos). This free annual event includes arts and crafts, live music, folkloric dances, a Day of the Dead altar, and other cultural activities. Free.

Day of the Dead is a Mexican tradition that honors those who have departed before us. Within Mexican culture’s complex fusion of customs including Aztec, Mayan, and Spanish traditions, death is merely one part in the wider cycle of existence. The Day of the Dead celebration is the result of the ancient ritual venerations and offerings to the goddess Mictecacihuatl (“Lady of the Dead”) for deceased children and adults as well as the Spaniards’ desire to accommodate these festivities within the Catholic celebrations of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

Organized by Palmetto Luna Arts in collaboration with the CMA and the SC Commission for Minority Affairs. Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program. Sponsored by The City of Columbia, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, and the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Supported by Bank of America Charitable Foundation.

Art Class: Drawing 101
Saturday, November 1 | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Pencil in some time to work on foundational drawing techniques in this one-day workshop. Experiment with pencil, charcoal, and conté crayon and take in-depth explorations of proportions and contrasts in value and texture. Taught by art educator Mary Hendrix, who holds a bachelor’s degree in art from East Tennessee State University and a master’s degree in teaching from the University of South Carolina. Ages 15 and up. All materials and equipment provided. $100 / $80 for members.

Art Class: Finding Inner Calm Through Art Journaling
Tuesdays, November 4, 11, and 18 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Embark on a creative journey into mindfulness, intention setting, and personal exploration through art journaling. Enjoy making beautiful backgrounds, meditative marks, and collage, using prompts to spark your creativity, find calm, and connect with your emotional self. Taught by artist and instructor Marlena Crovatt-Bagwell. Ages 15 and up. All supplies and equipment provided. $150 / $120 for members.

A graduate of The Savannah College of Art and Design, Marlena Crovatt-Bagwell is an accomplished graphic designer with more than 30 years of experience. In the face of the 2020 pandemic, she discovered the power of art journaling and meditation as leveling creative outlets. She has since filled dozens of journals, finding balance, harmony, and peace of mind within them. Crovatt-Bagwell has taught wellness and art workshops since 2021.

Yoga on the Plaza
Wednesdays, November 5 and 12 | 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Join Juliet Hewitt, E-RYT 500 and yoga program manager for Corazon Holistic Health on Main Street, for a yoga class designed for beginners as well as seasoned practitioners. This class focuses on the shapes and general alignment of basic yoga poses along with variations of sun salutations. Breathwork and meditation round out this fun, before-work practice. Mats are provided, but participants are welcome to bring their own. Ages 15 and up. No unaccompanied minors. $15 / $12 for members.

Gladys’ Gang Toddler Edition: Dots, Dashes, and Doodles
Wednesday, November 5 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
There are all kinds of lines — from zany zigzags to wiggly waves. Join us to explore Keith Haring: Radiant Vision and see how he used lines to show sound, movement, and excitement. Gladys’ Gang is specially designed for 2- to 3-year-old participants and their adult companions to explore art through movement and play. This program builds skills for kindergarten readiness through story time, gallery conversations, and a creative studio project related to the art exploration theme. Free. Registration required for all participants as space is limited. Siblings welcome! Sponsored by Publix Super Markets Charities.

Free First Thursday at the CMA
Thursday, November 6 | 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Enjoy free admission and extended hours with a tour of Keith Haring: Radiant Vision and public art at 6:00 p.m. Last gallery entry at 7:30 p.m. Free. Plaza events by First Thursday on Main. Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.

Walking Tour: Public Art for a Cause
Thursday, November 6 | 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Grab your walking shoes and gather at the CMA for a gallery tour of Keith Haring: Radiant Vision led by Curator of Education Glenna Barlow and a walking tour of public art in the Main Street District led by Pamela Zeljak of One Columbia for Arts & Culture. Haring’s iconic work is celebrated not only for its bold visual language but also for its passionate advocacy — championing social justice, public health, and human rights. Inspired by his legacy, the walking tour highlights downtown public artworks that similarly use the power of art to spark awareness, inspire action, and build community around critical causes. As we explore each piece, consider how public art can be a force for change — amplifying voices, transforming spaces, and reminding us that creativity and compassion are deeply connected. This tour is a round-trip, five-block walk starting inside the CMA, so come prepared with walking shoes and comfortable clothes. Free as part of Free First Thursday at the CMA. Registration required as space is limited. Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.

Art Class: Airbrushing and Its Rise in Contemporary Art
Saturdays, November 8 and 22 | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Explore the history of the airbrush and its evolution into one of the most in-vogue tools in contemporary art — and learn to handle this instrument yourself. This two-part class covers surface preparation, masking, stenciling, and more fundamentals. Whether you’re an established painter looking to incorporate airbrushing into your own practice or a beginner artist seeking to try something new, this course offers both contextual and technical insight into a humble but powerful tool. Taught by artist Dylan Smeak. Ages 15 and up. All supplies and equipment provided. $150 / $120 for members.

Dylan Smeak is an artist born and raised in Augusta, Georgia. His work explores the thick, sticky layers of cultural residue left behind by time and the nostalgia evoked by objects as simple as worn stickers, old logos, and bygone technological devices. In his practice, Smeak relies heavily on the immediacy of airbrushing and combines the blue-collar, utilitarian techniques of set designers and automotive painters with the time-tested methods of classical painters.

Public Tour of Keith Haring: Radiant Vision
Tuesday, November 11 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 22 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Join us for a vibrant tour of Keith Haring: Radiant Vision, featuring original works from iconic Pop artist Keith Haring, a shooting star of the 1980s New York art scene. Earnest and irreverent, Haring was a lifelong advocate of education and socially conscious of the world around him. His signature images, with bold lines and vibrant colors, include dancing figures, a radiant baby, and a barking dog. Free with membership or admission.

Keith Haring: Radiant Vision Tour with Joseph Bruce
Thursday, November 13 | 5:30 – 6:45 p.m. | Tour at 6:00 p.m.
Step into the world of Keith Haring: Radiant Vision with CMA trustee Joseph Bruce, who lived in New York City during the full span of Haring’s career. This special tour offers anecdotes and insights into the artist’s work and legacy through the lens of Bruce’s lived experience as part of the city’s community of gay men in the 1980s. Come early for complimentary wine and cheese before the tour at 6:00 p.m. Free with membership or admission. Limited spots available, so please register in advance.

Stroller Tour: Radiant Vision
Saturday, November 15 | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Take a tour of our featured exhibition with infants in tow! Bring your little ones along for the ride on a stroller-friendly tour for caregivers with babies up to age two. Fussy, crying, or wiggly babies welcome! Baby wearing is encouraged. Free with membership or admission. Registration required as space is limited. Sponsored by Publix Super Markets Charities.

Join us for a vibrant tour of Keith Haring: Radiant Vision, featuring more than 250 original works from iconic Pop artist Keith Haring, a shooting star of the 1980s New York art scene. Earnest and irreverent, Haring was a lifelong advocate of education and socially conscious of the world around him. His signature images, with bold lines and vibrant colors, include dancing figures, a radiant baby, and a barking dog.

Gladys’ Gang Preschool Edition: Dots, Dashes, and Doodles
Wednesday, November 19 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
There are all kinds of lines — from zany zigzags to wiggly waves. Join us to explore Keith Haring: Radiant Vision and see how he used lines to show sound, movement, and excitement. Gladys’ Gang is specially designed for 4- to 5-year-old participants and their adult companions to explore art through play and inquiry. This program builds skills for kindergarten readiness through story time, gallery conversations, and a creative studio project related to the art exploration theme. Free. Registration required for all participants as space is limited. Siblings welcome! Sponsored by Publix Super Markets Charities.

Meet the Author: Patrick Bringley
Wednesday, November 19 | 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Join us at Richland Library Main to reflect on the power of art and museums with author Patrick Bringley as he discusses his book All the Beauty in the World, documenting his time as a guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Bringley describes the unique subculture of museum guards, the importance of art and museums, and the treasures that lie within. Moderated by CMA Deputy Director Joelle Ryan-Cook. This event is made possible through a partnership with Richland Library. Free.

Patrick Bringley is the author of All the Beauty in the World, a memoir about his decade working as a guard in the galleries of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The book has been praised by outlets including the New York Times, Washington Post, Guardian, and Associated Press, and has been named a best book of the year by the New York Public Library, NPR, the Financial Times, Audible, and the Sunday Times (London), which selected it as the outstanding art book of 2023; it also received the Marfield Prize and was a finalist for the Gotham Book Prize. Bringley will perform All the Beauty in the World as a one-man play at the Charleston Literary Festival this November, directed by Dominic Dromgoole, formerly the artistic director of the Globe Theatre in London. He leads public and private tours of the Met and lectures at museums and other venues around the country. Past and upcoming appearances include at the Met, National Gallery of Art, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Saint Louis Art Museum, Dallas Museum of Art, Chrysler Museum, University of Virginia, and Emirates Airlines Festival of Literature in Dubai. All the Beauty in the World is being published in translated editions around the world and is a national bestseller in South Korea. Bringley lives with his wife and children in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

Focal Points Tour: Art as a Doorway to the Present Moment
Thursday, November 20 | 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Join docent Beth Padgett to experience elements in Keith Haring’s work in a way that can lead to greater enjoyment of art and greater presence and ease in life. Shape, color, form, and space can become markers in your life that remind you to live mindfully. Focal Points is a series of gallery talks featuring topics and themes near and dear to the hearts of docents and staff. Free with membership or admission.

Arts & Draughts
Friday, November 21 | 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Celebrate fall with your favorite museum party! Enjoy exhibition Keith Haring: Radiant Vision, live music, unique perspective tours, art activities, food trucks, and more. Your host for the evening is drag queen extraordinaire Patti O’Furniture, who also leads two unique perspective tours in the Haring galleries. Enjoy music from Shows, Rodfly and the Clouds, DJ Wandergirl, and DJ Lady Marauder, plus stand-up comedy with Jenn Snyder and Phil Carter. Step back in time to the 1980s New York dance club Paradise Garage in the CMA Loft. Dance the night away and take some throwback group photos in the polaroid photo booth. Get creative as you make a statement at the DIY wheatpaste station and pull a print with the USC Artist Guild. Join in on Haring-inspired art activities with CMA affinity group the Columbia Design League. Get colorful with Haring-inspired body painting. Purchase your own official Arts & Draughts t-shirt, designed by Matt Porter and printed in person by Bluetile Print Shop, or some made-to-order airbrushed clothing and accessories. Get refreshed with a pop-up beer garden from WECO Bottle & Biergarten featuring Highland Brewing Company and food from La Cochinita and Guy’s Hotdogs. Ages 18+. Advance tickets: $15 / $10 for members. At the door: $20 / $10 for members. Join or renew membership that night or volunteer for a short shift to get in free!

Sponsored by WECO Bottle and Biergarten and WXRY 99.3 FM. Music at the CMA is supported by funds from the Baker & Baker Foundation and Nancy and Richard Layman.