March events at the Columbia Museum of Art

Columbia Museum of Art March 2026 Calendar

EXHIBITIONS

Rodney McMillian: A Son of the Soil
On view March 21 through June 28, 2026
Rodney McMillian: A Son of the Soil is a thematic presentation of this important American artist’s work across media. Organized by the Columbia Museum of Art, the exhibition broadly locates McMillian’s artistic investigations within the cultural and political landscape of the American South, highlighting his diverse engagements with topics of land, the body, and the domestic sphere.

McMillian (b. 1969, Columbia, SC; lives and works in Los Angeles, CA) confronts American identity by addressing complex histories — of class and race, of landscape and region, of art and a nation. He adopts a sweeping view of landscape representation as both a physical space and an ideological position. In large-scale painted expanses and films set in the Deep South, McMillian evokes land’s tillage and spoilage, histories of ownership, and the charged relationship between land and the body.

Drawing on diverse cultural sources ranging from science fiction to political speeches, McMillian registers the complexity of a nation and its multifarious systems. He employs post-consumer objects, such as thrifted bedding and discarded furniture, in an extended meditation on class and domesticity. In the artist’s hands, these materials assume new life, registering experience in tears and stains that bear the weight of history. McMillian’s work resonates powerfully in a Southern context, provoking further inquiry into Black citizenship and the continuing presence of historical currents.

McMillian serves as a professor in the Department of Art at UCLA, where he has worked since 2009. His work is in major public collections including, among others, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh. In 2017, McMillian received the Contemporary Austin’s inaugural Suzanne Deal Booth Art Prize; the previous year, his work was highlighted in solo exhibitions at the ICA Philadelphia, the Studio Museum in Harlem, MoMA PS 1, and the Aspen Art Museum. Rodney McMillian: The Land: Not Without a Politic was on view at the Marta Herford Museum, Germany, in 2024.

Rodney McMillian: A Son of the Soil is presented through the support of our generous sponsors and grantors. Major support provided by Teiger Foundation, Terra Foundation for American Art, and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. Gold sponsor: Dominion Energy. Silver sponsors: Suzanne and Robert Clawson; Theodore and Margaret Anne DuBose. Additional support for the Columbia Museum of Art from City of Columbia; Experience Columbia SC; Richland County Government; South Carolina Arts Commission; Discover South Carolina.

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

Pilates in the Galleries
Tuesdays, March 3 and 17 | 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
End your day with a restorative full-body Pilates session surrounded by inspiring works of art in the newly reopened CMA Collection galleries. Led by Michaela Leung, who has been practicing Pilates since 2018 and began her comprehensive Pilates certification in 2023, these classes combine classical Pilates principles with contemporary movement for a balanced, mindful workout. Each session includes exercises to strengthen the core, improve flexibility, and enhance posture, with modifications offered for all experience levels. Leung’s fun, energizing playlists — from hip-hop to indie — keep the session motivating and inclusive. Guests leave feeling refreshed, centered, and invigorated. No prior experience necessary. Mats are provided, but guests are welcome to bring their own mats and yoga props. Ages 13 and up; no unaccompanied minors. $20 / $16 for members.

Gladys’ Gang Toddler Edition: Weather or Not
Wednesday, March 4 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Let’s explore the art in the CMA Collection as we discuss climate and weather! We’ll talk about how these scenes look and feel before creating our own outdoor scenes. 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 includes story time, gallery exploration, and a creative studio activity related to the theme. Free. Registration required for all participants as space is limited. Siblings welcome!

Sound Bath and Guided Relaxation
Wednesday, March 4 | 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Enjoy an hour of tranquility with Juliet Hewitt, E-RYT 500 and certified integral sound practitioner. This class begins with Yoga Nidra, a form of guided relaxation to help the process of diving deeper inward, then moves to the full-body listening experience of a sound bath with crystal and metal singing bowls, a gong, and chimes. Benefits of sound baths include stress reduction, decreased anxiety, and increased mental clarity. Participants should wear comfortable clothing and bring a blanket or other support for their necks. Mats provided, but participants are welcome to bring their own. Ages 15 and up. No unaccompanied minors. $20 / $16 for members.

Free First Thursday at the CMA
Thursday, March 5 | 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Enjoy free admission, extended hours, a Ramadan night market, and a CMA Collection tour. Last gallery entry at 7:30 p.m. Free admission courtesy of Art Bridges Access for All Program and Lexington Health.

Ramadan Night Market
Thursday, March 5 | 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Head to Boyd Plaza during First Thursday on Main for Columbia’s second annual Ramadan Night Market, courtesy of the CMA and USC Humanities Collaborative The Muslim South! Enjoy a night of community and culture — shop with handicraft and clothing vendors, grab a post-sunset chai and dinner from local food trucks, and participate in free activities including bracelet making, paper lantern making, henna, and personalized calligraphy bookmarks. Throughout the evening Muslims in observance of Ramadan will have space dedicated to prayer. Qur’an recitation will take place after the evening prayer time. Come by for this welcoming market, meet members in and outside the Muslim community, and learn about one of the most important traditions of the Islamic faith. Free. Galleries open and free as part of Free First Thursday at the CMA. In the event of inclement weather, this program will be moved indoors.

Public Tour of Collection Galleries
Thursday, March 5 | 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Join us for a tour of the newly renovated CMA Collection galleries. Come and see some of your old favorites and find a few new ones! Free as part of Free First Thursday at the CMA.

A French Quarter Fête
Saturday, March 7 | 7:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Step into the golden age of jazz at A French Quarter Fête, the Contemporaries’ annual gala. This year’s celebration is inspired by 1940s and ’50s New Orleans. Enjoy sultry music, midcentury glamour, and velvet vibes while savoring NOLA–style bites, classic cocktails, and a touch of mystery. Stroll through an exclusive art auction featuring extraordinary works from some of our region’s most talented artists. Every bid supports the Contemporaries’ Art Acquisition Fund, helping the CMA continue to captivate and inspire as the premier cultural destination in the Midlands. Dress in your vintage best for an unforgettable evening where art, music, and magic collide. Individual tickets: $90 / $75 for Contemporaries members. Couples’ tickets: $165 / $140 for Contemporaries members. VIP tickets: $150.

Georgian Gallery Tour with Joseph Bruce
Tuesday, March 10 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Join CMA trustee Joseph Bruce for a tour of the CMA’s new Georgian gallery, the first period gallery in the museum’s 75-year history. Focused on art from the Georgian era, a period in British history from 1714 to 1837, this extraordinary space is anchored by a recent major gift of New Hall porcelain from Bruce himself. Immerse yourself in the elegance and charm of this essential chapter in British decorative arts and cultural history. Discover Chinese export porcelain made for the British market, a recently conserved 18th-century portrait, and a rare gaming table — all set against a backdrop of period-correct wallpaper. Free with membership or admission.

Yoga in the Galleries
Tuesdays, March 10 and 24 | 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Close your eyes and inhale as if creating a brilliant painting within, rich and vibrant. Exhale as if gently brushing the colors across the canvas, letting each stroke carry away the weight of the day. Take one last deep breath in and release it like the final stroke of a finished work. In each all-level class, students flow like living paintings — slowly, mindfully, and full of presence. Every practice is its own gallery of breath and motion, leaving body and spirit light, refreshed, and at ease. This session in the newly installed Collection galleries is led by Delisa Simpson-Even, a Columbia-based RYT 200-hour yoga instructor. Mats provided, but students are welcome to bring their own mats and props. Ages 13 and up; no unaccompanied minors. $20 / $16 for members.

Delisa Simpson-Even trained in Ashtanga yoga in Tulum, Mexico, where she received her 200RYT. She has hosted and conducted workshops and served as an ambassador for local wellness and fitness instructors for Athleta in Huntsville, Alabama. Simpson-Even has served as a yoga instructor at the Carnegie Visual Arts Center in Decatur, Alabama, as well as the Yoga Fire Studio in Madison, Alabama. Most recently, Simpson-Even hosted a workshop at Namaste Yoga and taught classes at Lake Murray Yoga. She currently teaches yoga at One Life Fitness and is a youth yoga teacher for Peaceful Gathering Nature School.

Luxuries of the Kress Collection Tour: Through the Senses
Thursday, March 12 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Experience the Renaissance in a new way during this special multisensory tour led by Kress Interpretive Fellow Erin Kuykendall. Explore select works from the Kress Collection through touch, smell, sound, and sight and discover how luxury goods such as silk, lace, feathers, and fine fragrances signaled status and refinement. From indulgent fabrics to evocative scents, each tour stop reveals how these fineries shaped life and visual culture across Europe. Free with membership or admission. Registration required as space is limited.

Art Class: Understanding the Basics
Saturday, March 14 | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
An understanding of the basic components of art — the elements of art and the principles of design — is the gateway to successful creation. Using works in the CMA Collection as inspiration, this class leads participants through a series of informative and engaging projects that build confidence in the elements of art including line, texture, movement, and space. Taught by local 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. Supplies and equipment provided. $100 / $80 for members.

Public Tour of Collection Galleries
Saturday, March 14 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Join us for a tour of the newly renovated CMA Collection galleries. Come and see some of your old favorites and find a few new ones! Free with membership or admission.

Gladys’ Gang Preschool Edition: Weather or Not
Wednesday, March 18 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Let’s explore the art in the CMA Collection as we discuss climate and weather! We’ll talk about how these scenes look and feel before creating our own outdoor scenes. 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!

Focal Points Tour: Columbia in the Collection
Thursday, March 19 | 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
The city of Columbia has had a powerful and often overlooked influence on art and artists. Discover hometown heroes holding their own in the global CMA Collection on this tour with docent Ben Rast. 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.

McMillian Opening Day Member Morning
Saturday, March 21 | 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
CMA members are invited to enjoy early access on opening day of Rodney McMillian: A Son of the Soil. Check out this exciting new exhibition before the crowds arrive. Free with membership. Registration encouraged as space is limited.

Stroller Tour of the Collection
Saturday, March 21 | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Take a tour of the newly reopened CMA Collection 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.

Evening for Educators: Rodney McMillian
Wednesday, March 25 | 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Educators from across the state are invited to the museum for an evening of art, wine, and bites as they enjoy exclusive access to new featured exhibition Rodney McMillian: A Son of the Soil. Join Dr. Abbe Schriber, assistant professor of art history and African American studies at the University of South Carolina, as she discusses the role of housing and domestic life in the work of Columbia native Rodney McMillian. Educators are invited to explore the galleries, learn about brand-new tours, and try out lesson plan materials focusing on the new exhibition. Free. Registration is required as space is limited. Attendees receive documentation for professional development renewal credit.

Art in Focus: Race and Gender in A Son of the Soil
Thursday, March 26 | 11:00 – 11:45 a.m.
Art in Focus is a series of spotlight talks in which art historians explore themes found in works on view at the CMA, offering an opportunity to discover new insights. For this Art in Focus, join CMA Curator Sadé Ayorinde in discussion around pieces in new featured exhibition Rodney McMillian: A Son of the Soil, where she will highlight topics of race and gender in McMillian’s work. Learn more about these artworks and the artist who created them. Free with membership or admission.

Public Tour of Rodney McMillian: A Son of the Soil
Thursday, March 26 | 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Join us for a tour of new exhibition Rodney McMillian: A Son of the Soil. Rodney McMillian (b. 1969, Columbia, SC; lives and works in Los Angeles, CA) confronts American identity by addressing complex histories. Drawing on diverse cultural sources ranging from science fiction to political speeches, he registers the complexity of a nation and its systems. McMillian’s work resonates powerfully in a Southern context, provoking further inquiry into Black citizenship and the continuing presence of historical currents. Free with membership or admission.