The South Carolina State Museum announces new exhibition titled “From the Vault: South Carolina Art From the Museum’s Collection”
September 16, 2025
New exhibition also marks the re-opening of the Lipscomb Art Gallery
The South Carolina State Museum unveiled “From the Vault: South Caroline Art from the Museum’s Collection,” a new exhibition opening Friday, Sept. 26. Featuring more than 75 works from the museum’s collection, many rarely seen by the public, the exhibition also marks the reopening of the Lipscomb Art Gallery. An opening reception, free to the public, will be held Thursday, Sept. 25, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Drawn from the museum’s collection of over 4,500 works of art and handmade objects, “From the Vault: South Caroline Art from the Museum’s Collection” celebrates South Carolina’s deep artistic heritage. The exhibition spans centuries of creativity, from early portraits and Edgefield stoneware to contemporary works by celebrated artists across the state.
“This exhibition reflects the incredible range of stories South Carolina artists have told over generations,” said Paul Matheny, Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs. “It’s a vibrant cross-section of our shared culture, one we are thrilled to host in the recently upgraded Lipscomb Art Gallery, a space dedicated to preserving and honoring these works for years to come.”
Highlights from the exhibition include new acquisitions from the Everette James Jr. Collection, alongside works of fine, folk and decorative arts, including pottery, paintings, drawings, furniture and quilts. The exhibition also features widely acclaimed South Carolina artists, such as Jasper Johns, Shepard Fairey, Elizabeth O’Neill Verner, William H. Johnson and Leo Twiggs, among many others. Guests will also see work by contemporary creatives like Sanford Greene, a comics artist with an international following; Clay Rice, celebrated for his intricate silhouette portraits; and Aggie Zed, whose imaginative sculptures continue to expand South Carolina’s artistic narrative. Pioneering women artists, including Corrie McCallum, Aldwyth, Christine Tedesco, and Louise Horry Nesbitt, are also featured, showcasing their vital perspectives on the state’s cultural and artistic legacy.
“From the Vault: South Caroline Art from the Museum’s Collection” reflects an effort by curators to expand the museum’s collection during the two-year closure of the Lipscomb Art Gallery. Recently completed upgrades to the gallery include the installation of a new roof and HVAC system, as well as a new lighting system. These improvements will ensure a stable and visually enhanced environment for current and future exhibitions.
The exhibition’s opening reception on Thursday, Sept. 25, is free to the public and to participants of the upcoming program for artists and arts supporters: Artist Homecoming 2025. Guests are encouraged to RSVP at scmuseum.org.
Entrance to “From the Vault: South Carolina Art From the Museum’s Collection” is included with museum general admission: $13 for adults, $11 for seniors and military, and $10 for children aged 3-12. Infants 2 and under are free.
