'Information Automator' at The Ogden Museum

On Exhibit August 1, 2026 – February 14, 2027

From the Museum:

Ogden Museum of Southern Art launched Louisiana Contemporary, presented by The Helis Foundation, in 2012 as an annual juried exhibition celebrating artists living in Louisiana and showcasing the vitality of artistic practice across the state. Now marking its 15th anniversary, the exhibition has featured work by more than 650 artists since its inception, establishing Louisiana Contemporary as a significant moment on the national arts calendar that recognizes and celebrates the breadth of creative voices emerging from New Orleans and arts communities throughout Louisiana.

Juror Sarah Jones, Lulu C. and Anthony W. Wang Head of Live Arts at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, has selected 50 works by 45 artists from over 1,786 submissions.

Juror Statement:

As someone from Mississippi, who spent much of their time in Louisiana, it has been the greatest privilege to work with Ogden Museum on Louisiana Contemporary 2026, presented by The Helis Foundation.

There were a staggering number of submissions with 1,786 works from 524 artists. The artists come from all over the world, at various points in their careers and are reflective of the rich cultural quilt that is Louisiana. The proximity to water informs so much in this area; it’s a life source, a necessity, yet simultaneously remains a quiet threat at all times. This tension came through in many works both figuratively and metaphorically.

It was impossible to make a selection of works that felt representative of Louisiana artists. The submissions in total evoked for me what I love most about the South: bold creative expression. They grappled with various topics; among those that left the biggest imprint for me were a reckoning with ecological and societal precarity, an interrogation of and insistence on identity, and the power of place that is Louisiana. They also prompted radical provocations of joy through their beauty and skill.

I was thrilled to see an incredible breadth of mediums–performance, photography, painting, sculpture, installation, new media, fiber work and more. These artists are taking risks, challenging norms and continuing to push the edges of how mediums can be interpreted and used. There was great experimentation in much of the work, all while maintaining excellence, depth and rigor.

I’m leaving this experience with great inspiration and hope. I firmly believe that art has the ability to move, ground and connect us–to create transformative, inclusive experiences that resonate across communities. The artists this year have taken this up with profound care and potency, and for that I am deeply grateful to be a part of the Louisiana Contemporary 2026.

Sarah Jones
Lulu C. and Anthony W. Wang Head of Live Arts at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York