Georgia State University's Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design will present "Where Being Takes Root: Works by Southern Artists From the Larry M. and Gwendolyn E. Walker Collection," a landmark exhibition running from June 4 to October 15 in the Welch School Galleries. The show celebrates the legacy of artist and professor emeritus Larry M. Walker (1935–2023), whose personal collection of over 300 works was donated to the university after his death. Curated by Lauren Jackson Harris, the exhibition features artists including Charles White, Radcliffe Bailey, Kevin Cole, Bethany Collins, Benny Andrews, David Driskell, Steve Prince, and Kara Walker, with a dedicated Walker Family Gallery showcasing works by Larry Walker, his wife Gwen, and their children Dana, Larry Jr., and Kara Walker.
This exhibition matters because it highlights the South as a generative cultural force and honors Larry M. Walker's pioneering role as the first Black director of the Welch School, reflecting his commitment to equity in arts education. The Walker Collection, encompassing prints, photographs, paintings, and sculptures, will support student education, archival research, and public programming, ensuring that Walker's ethos of artmaking as communal exchange continues to influence future generations of artists and scholars.