The Kosciusko, Mississippi, home of self-taught African American artist L.V. Hull has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. Hull transformed her property into a vibrant art environment over decades, using found objects and her signature dot paintings, attracting international visitors. This marks the first home-studio of an African American woman visual artist, and the first such environment by any African American artist, to be listed at the national significance level.
The designation, announced on the 50th anniversary of Hull's purchase of the home, represents a critical shift in recognizing the historic and cultural achievements of Black women artists, who have been historically underrepresented. The listing aims to catalyze the preservation of other important sites. Hull's friend Yaphet Smith purchased the deteriorating property in 2021 and, through his nonprofit, is fundraising to restore it as the L.V. Hull Legacy Center, with support from state arts funding and a planned 2025 solo exhibition at the Mississippi Museum of Art.