August 2026 exhibitions and events at the Columbia Museum of Art

EXHIBITIONS

Body Matters
August 22, 2026 – January 3, 2027
The human body is essential to craft. This genre of art is rooted in physical labor, tactile knowledge, and material intimacy, and the resulting pieces are often intended to protect our bodies or to assist in nourishing them.

Building on that foundation, this exhibition presents works made of wood, ceramics, glass, textiles, and sweetgrass, and foregrounds their bodily resonance in terms of method of making as well as subject matter. The artists, both historical and contemporary, reveal their deep engagement with the body through figural representations and objects that address life cycles and support bodily functions. Likewise, they leave the marks of their own bodies through the labor of creation — the gestures (or lack thereof), repetitions, and physical engagement that shape each piece.

Body Matters celebrates the importance of the hand in handwork and encourages viewers to consider their own relationships with objects both in and outside the galleries. This exhibition is part of Handwork 2026, Craft in America’s nationwide semiquincentennial collaboration showcasing the importance of the handmade and celebrating the diversity of craft that defines America.

Silver Sponsors: Dr. Suzanne R. Thorpe and Dr. John W. Baynes. Bronze Sponsors: Maynard Nexsen PC; Beth and Matthew Richardson; Brenda and Rick Wheeler. Patron Sponsor: Joseph Bruce. Grantors: City of Columbia, Experience Columbia SC, Richland County, South Carolina Arts Commission, and Discover South Carolina.

Jasper Johns: All Familiar Things
On view through August 30, 2026
In 1953, Jasper Johns (b. 1930) moved from Columbia, South Carolina, where he had been stationed at Fort Jackson, to New York, where he would seriously pursue a career as an artist. He became fascinated with ordinary symbols: numbers, flags, and targets, which he manipulated in diverse ways across media. “All familiar things can open into strange worlds,” Johns noted in 2021, an observation that seems to afford space for the infinite possibilities latent in everyday subjects.

In addition to common objects, Johns also frequently engages art historical themes, integrating motifs from artworks across time throughout his paintings and prints. In the 1980s, he began incorporating facets of his own life into his art. The artist has remarked, “In my early work I tried to hide my personality, my psychological state, my emotions, but eventually it seemed like a losing battle.”

Here, we offer a selection of Johns’ work that exemplifies his major artistic preoccupations: everyday objects, the history of art, and personal reflection. In works such as The Seasons, one can find the artist combining all three of these thematic concerns within a single arrangement. Drawn from the CMA’s holdings, the works on view span Johns’ long career, offering a glimpse into the artist’s dynamic and distinct oeuvre.

Richard Samuel Roberts: A Columbia Legacy
On view through February 21, 2027
Richard Samuel Roberts (1880–1936) established his photo studio at 1119 Washington Street in Columbia in 1922. He was one of only a few professional African American photographers operating in the South at that time and counted the burgeoning Black middle class as his patrons. Largely self-taught, Roberts possessed a keen eye for detail and composition, elegantly posing his sitters in a manner that exuded dignity and grace.

In 1977, Roberts’ work was rediscovered in Columbia’s Arsenal Hill neighborhood, when over 3,000 glass plate negatives were found stacked together in the crawl space of his family home. Over the course of the next decade, the plates were restored under the auspices of the University of South Carolina, once more bringing to life the contributions of this important photographer. The images on view here were reproduced from the original plates.

The CMA held a major exhibition showcasing over 130 of Roberts’ photographs in 1986. Coinciding with the city’s bicentennial year, the opening reception of Richard Samuel Roberts: A True Likeness remains one of the most celebrated in the museum’s history. The exhibition thereafter traveled to numerous venues across the country, cementing Roberts’ legacy on the national stage.

Winston Wingo: Who Would We Be/Who Could We Be?
On view through March 4, 2027
Since the 1970s, Winston Wingo (b. 1952, Spartanburg, SC) has explored the tension between technology and humanity in a dynamic series of sculptural heads. These bronze-cast cyborgs embody the contrast between industrial and organic forms. They appear rigid, rendered with mechanical precision — angular planes, geometric incisions resembling computer circuitry, and metallic patinas that recall the sleek energy of machines. At the same time, they retain human features, a sense of movement, and seemingly pliable textures reminiscent of fingers in clay.

Wingo draws inspiration for his series from art history. His chosen method of lost-wax casting is inspired by the bronzes that adorned the royal palace of the Kingdom of Benin. This reference to African art is both a means of affirming ancestral ties and asserting Black identity through material permanence. Twentieth-century Italian Futurism serves as a further source; where the Futurists beckoned the machine age to renounce the past, Wingo invites us to critique technology as a departure from humanity.

Though Wingo began his series decades before the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), his work today feels more relevant than ever (and perhaps even prescient) for its rich social and political content. Seen through the lens of Afrofuturism, a cultural movement that engages Black concerns in dialogue with technology, Wingo’s heads manifest as monuments to Black futurity. They encourage the viewer to envision worlds in which Black bodies are not erased or mythologized but centered in conversations around societal advancement.

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

Book a Tour and Save
Gather some friends and enjoy discounted admission as you get an inside look at our exhibitions or collection with a docent-led tour. Details at columbiamuseum.org/tours.

Multisensory Tours
Multisensory Tours provide an opportunity for visitors who are blind or have low vision to experience the diverse work in the CMA Collection. Explore the galleries with a skilled museum educator trained to provide detailed verbal description of the work on view, while experiencing a selection of objects through touch and other senses.

Multisensory Tours are available to visitors who are blind or partially sighted in groups of 5 to 10. These 90-minute tours take place when the galleries are closed to the general public and require four weeks’ advance notice to schedule. To book a tour call 803-343-2163 or email [email protected].

Art Class: Exploring Your Digital Camera
Saturdays, August 1 and 8 | 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
In this two-part workshop, explore digital imaging techniques, including image adjustment and printing methods, with an emphasis on color photography. Participants gain a thorough understanding of digital photography within the context of contemporary art along with hands-on techniques for digital photography. Taught by art educator Jess Peri. Ages 15 and up. Participants must bring their own digital camera; all other equipment provided. Any camera capable of fully manual exposure (can control the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO) is recommended; please reach out to [email protected] if you have questions. $160 / $128 for members.

Peri earned a BFA from the University of North Texas in 2012 and an MFA from the University of New Mexico in 2018. His work has been included in exhibitions at the Harwood Museum of Art (Taos, NM), Albuquerque Museum (Albuquerque, NM), University of New Mexico’s Museum of Art (Albuquerque, NM), SRO Photo Gallery (Lubbock, TX), Lionel Rombach Gallery (Tempe, AZ), Yuma Center for the Arts (Yuma, AZ), Salina Art Center (Salina, KS), and Millepiani Exhibition Space (Rome, Italy), among others. His work has been featured in Fraction Magazine, Glasstire, D Magazine, and LoosenArt. Peri lives and works in Columbia, where he is a professor of art at the University of South Carolina.

Gladys’ Gang Toddler Edition: Hear Here!
Wednesday, August 5 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Most art doesn’t make noise, but we do! Join us to explore the howling winds, barking dogs, and rushing rivers in art throughout the CMA Collection. 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! This program is supported in part by grants from Publix Super Markets Charities and the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation.

Free First Thursday at the CMA
Thursday, August 6 | 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Enjoy free admission and extended hours. At 5:00 p.m., take tour of the CMA Collection and at 6:00 join us for a book talk. Last gallery entry at 7:30 p.m. Free admission courtesy of Art Bridges Access for All Program and Lexington Health.

Public Tour of the Collection
Thursday, August 6 | 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Explore some highlights of the CMA Collection on a guided tour. Experience art from the past and present, seeing how artists and makers are inspired by yesterday, how they view the world today, and how they envision tomorrow. Free as part of Free First Thursday at the CMA. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation.

That Which Binds Us: Book Talk and Signing
Thursday, August 6 | Talk 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. | Book Signing to Follow
Head to the CMA for a literary program featuring Columbia author Cathy Rigg and her book, That Which Binds Us, a finalist for the 2025 Forward Indies Book of the Year in historical fiction. Grab a drink from the First Thursday on Main bar, buy a book, and join Rigg and Deputy Director Joelle Ryan-Cook for a reading, conversation, and some mountain music from special guests. Free as part of Free First Thursday at the CMA.

Cathy Rigg was born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains of southwest Virginia, where her people on her mother’s side go back seven generations. After college at Clemson University, she moved to Columbia and founded brand marketing firm Riggs Partners. Her debut novel, That Which Binds Us (Keylight Books), was published in 2025 and recently named a 2025 Forward INDIES Book of the Year (historical fiction) finalist. Rigg’s fiction and poetry have appeared in Still: The Journal; Women Speak: An Anthology of the Women of Appalachia Project; litmosphere: journal of Charlotte Lit; These Mosaics poetry anthology; Clinch Mountain Review, and more. She and her husband, Tim Monetti, divide their time between home in Columbia and Burnsville, North Carolina, where they stare at the view and obsess over the bears on a ridge high above Asheville.

South Carolina Native American Art Market
Saturday, August 15 | 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
For the third consecutive year and in collaboration with the SC Commission for Community Advancement and Engagement, the CMA welcomes Native American artists of various mediums to share their talents and stories on Boyd Plaza during Soda City Market. Shop the pop-up market featuring woodworking, jewelry, pottery, indigenous food, and more. Learn from Indigenous artists and community leaders through live demonstrations including performances from fancy dancers, jingle dancers, grass dancers, and men’s and women’s traditional dancers alongside Catawba Nation’s Women of the River Drum Group and the Iron Arrow Singers. Free to attend. Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program and the Knight Foundation. In the event of rain, the market will be moved indoors.

Art Class: Glass Kaleidoscopes
Saturday, August 15 | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Step into a world of color, light, and magic in this stained-glass kaleidoscope workshop. Learn how to assemble and align a mirror system inside and decorate the outside using the Tiffany method, a stained-glass construction technique. Discover how to use the science and magic of polarized film to create visual reflections. Participants are guided through the creative process, exploring color, mirror reflections, glass cutting, copper foiling, and assembly. This class is suitable for beginners and those with experience. All tools and equipment are provided. Ages 15 and up. Taught by artist Katie Knopp and art educator Blair A. Minick. $175 / $140 for members.

Knopp’s passion for the arts started at a very young age and has evolved through many different art mediums over the years. She has studied drawing, painting, welding, pottery, sculpture, graphic design, and more. When Knopp began working with glass in 2000, it was an instant attraction. She loved how the glass interacted in the sunlight, and three-dimensional stained glass soon became her trademark. Knopp discovered the art of kaleidoscopes in 2017 — it has been quite a journey, and hands down the most fun art she’s ever encountered! It’s incredible how a few pieces of mirror can create such fun interactive visuals, and it’s all about creating a new perspective in life.

Minick studied at the Savannah College of Art and Design, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in photography and a minor in metals and jewelry. She continued her education at North Georgia College and State University and received her Master of Arts in Teaching. Minick grew up knowing that she wanted to be in art education. This led her to her career as an art teacher, where she taught for five years at the K-12 level. Some of her teaching courses included photography, metals, jewelry, visual arts, graphic design, and AP and IB Art. For the last eight years, Minick has served as a senior instructor of art education and the supervisor of student teaching within art education at the University of South Carolina School of Visual Art and Design.

Stroller Tour of the Collection
Saturday, August 15 | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Take a tour of the 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, SC residency, or admission. Registration required as space is limited. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation.

Public Tour of the Collection
Sunday, August 16 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Explore some highlights of the CMA Collection on a guided tour. Experience art from the past and present, seeing how artists and makers are inspired by yesterday, how they view the world today, and how they envision tomorrow. Free with membership, SC residency, or admission. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation.

Gladys’ Gang Preschool Edition: Hear Here!
Wednesday, August 19 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Most art doesn’t make noise, but we do! Join us to explore howling winds, barking dogs, and rushing rivers in art throughout the CMA Collection. 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! This program is supported in part by grants from Publix Super Markets Charities and the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation.

Focal Points Tour: Columbia in the Collection
Thursday, August 20 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
You can find the city of Columbia in art throughout the CMA, from the plaza to the galleries. Join docent Ben Rast for a tour that combines art, architecture, and the history of the city in an eye-opening hour. You’ll never look at Columbia the same way again. Free with membership, SC residency, or admission. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation.

Body Matters Member Morning
Saturday, August 22 | 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Calling all CMA members! Be among the first to view newly featured exhibition Body Matters with early, members-only access on opening day. Registration encouraged but not required. Free. Members only. Coffee and light refreshments provided. Member Morning brought to you by Nothing Bundt Cakes Forest Acres.

Body Matters Opening Discussion
Saturday, August 22 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Celebrate opening day of featured exhibition Body Matters with a conversation between CMA Curator Sadé Ayorinde and featured artist Judy Moonelis. Together, they discuss themes from the exhibition and reflect the ways Moonelis’ practice and approach to art-making connect to craft, material, and the body. Free with membership, SC residency, or admission. Registration required as space is limited.

Collection Spotlight: All Familiar Things
Thursday, August 27 | 2:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Enjoy a tour of collection exhibition Jasper Johns: All Familiar Things before it closes on August 30. Long before becoming one of America’s most important contemporary artists, Johns worked at the CMA while studying at USC and then again while stationed at Fort Jackson. Led by CMA trustee Joseph Bruce, this tour focuses on Johns’ remarkable series Four Seasons (1987), widely regarded as one of his most autobiographical works and a rare personal glimpse into an artist long known for his privacy and emotional reserve. Free with membership, SC residency, or admission. Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.

Public Tour of the Collection
Saturday, August 29 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Explore some highlights of the CMA Collection on a guided tour. Experience art from the past and present, seeing how artists and makers are inspired by yesterday, how they view the world today, and how they envision tomorrow. Free with membership, SC residency, or admission. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation.

 

About the CMA

The Columbia Museum of Art is a charitable nonprofit organization dedicated to lifelong learning and community enrichment for all. Located in the heart of downtown Columbia, S.C., the CMA ranks among the leading art institutions in the country and is distinguished by its innovative exhibitions and creative educational programs. At the heart of the CMA and its programs is its collection, which encompasses 7,000 works and spans 5,000 years of art history. Established in 1950, the CMA now welcomes more than 150,000 visitors annually and is a catalyst for community creativity and education, engaging people of all ages and backgrounds. It is the recipient of a National Medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a National Art Education Association award for its contributions to arts education, a National Park Foundation Award, and three Governor’s Awards for the Arts for outstanding contributions to the arts in South Carolina. To learn more, visit columbiamuseum.org.