The Alexandria Museum of Art (AMoA) will present Life as Opportunity: Clementine Hunter from the Ann & Jack Brittain Family Collection, a new exhibition celebrating the life, artistic development, and enduring legacy of one of Louisiana’s most recognized artists. The exhibition will be on view from Friday, October 30, 2026 through Saturday, June 19, 2027.
Known for her distinctive depictions of everyday life in rural Louisiana, Clementine Hunter created an extraordinary visual record of the people, traditions, celebrations, and experiences that surrounded her in Melrose Plantation. Life as Opportunity explores recurring themes throughout the artist’s work as well as the development of her painting technique through a multimedia interpretive approach. Together, the works offer visitors an opportunity to follow Hunter’s artistic growth across five decades of artmaking.
Guest curator Charlie White has brought together selections from the extensive collection of Ann and Jack Brittain, longtime patrons of Clementine Hunter and important supporters of her artistic career. Over the years, the Brittains amassed a significant collection of Hunter’s work encompassing a wide range of subjects, themes and periods. This will be the first time the collection is publicly displayed, thanks to the generous loan of the Brittain’s children.
Through this collection, Life as Opportunity examines both the remarkable breadth of Hunter’s work and the evolution of her artistic voice. Scenes of work, family, recreation, and community provide a window into the world Clementine Hunter knew while demonstrating the distinctive visual language that made her work immediately recognizable.
About Clementine Hunter
Clementine Hunter was born in the late 19th century in the Cane River region of Louisiana and spent much of her life living and working at Melrose Plantation near Natchitoches. She began painting later in life, using available materials and drawing inspiration from the people, places, and experiences around her.
Largely self-taught, Hunter developed a distinctive style characterized by bold color, flattened perspective and expressive figures. Her paintings documented everyday life in the Cane River community, including agricultural work, religious ceremonies, weddings, funerals, family gatherings, and celebrations. Over the course of her life, Clementine Hunter transformed personal memories and observations into an extensive visual chronicle of life in rural Louisiana.
Today, she is recognized as one of Louisiana’s most significant artists, and her work is held in museums, institutional and private collections throughout the country. Her paintings continue to offer an important perspective on the people, culture, and traditions of the Cane River region.
Members Opening Reception
AMoA members and guests are invited to celebrate the opening of Life as Opportunity: Clementine Hunter from the Ann & Jack Brittain Family Collection during a special members reception Friday, November 6, at 6 p.m. Guests will have the opportunity to explore the exhibition featuring works spanning decades of Hunter’s artistic career.
Clementine Hunter and the LSUA Archives
The celebration continues Saturday, November 7, beginning at 11 a.m. with a special program presented in collaboration with the LSUA Archives.
LSUA archivist Megan Lord will present a program highlighting the Sue Eakin Collection housed in the LSUA Archives and its connections to the history and cultural legacy surrounding Clementine Hunter. The presentation will be followed by a day of remembrance and commemoration dedicated to preserving personal stories associated with Hunter and her work.
Members of the public are invited to share and record their own Clementine Hunter anecdotes, memories, and personal connections. These oral histories will be collected for inclusion in the archives, helping preserve community memories for future generations.
Life as Opportunity: Clementine Hunter from the Ann & Jack Brittain Family Collection will be on view at the Alexandria Museum of Art from Friday, October 30, 2026 through Saturday, June 19, 2027.
For additional information about the exhibition and related programming, visit themuseum.org.
About the Alexandria Museum of Art
The Alexandria Museum of Art fosters a culturally rich community by providing opportunities for people to connect with the visual arts through exhibitions, educational programming, and community engagement. Located in downtown Alexandria, Louisiana, AMoA serves Central Louisiana through exhibitions of contemporary art, educational experiences, and programs designed to make the arts accessible to audiences of all ages.