Southern University Gallery Opens Lightwork Exhibition
The Frank Hayden Hall gallery features works from 26 artists in a new collaborative show.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Fine Art
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The Southern University Visual Arts Gallery has debuted its Lightwork group exhibition, showcasing a diverse collection from 26 artists. The show is a collaborative project between the university and the Ellemnop.art collective.
Why it matters
The gallery aims to build on the energy of its previous summer programming while offering an artistic space to shed light during a dark time. It features a broad range of creative contributors, including artists ranging from teenagers to seniors.
The exhibition showcases work from 26 artists across multiple genres including collage and music video. It follows a summer exhibition that attracted 800 visitors.
The players
Keidrick Alford
He is the curator who organized the Lightwork exhibition by grouping diverse artworks into thematic storytelling pockets.
Donney Rose
He is an artist and writer whose poem Blood on the Bluff is featured in the current exhibition.
Southern University
This is the higher education institution in Baton Rouge that is hosting the exhibition in Frank Hayden Hall.
The details
Curator Keidrick Alford organized the works into thematic pockets to tell distinct stories through music videos, three-dimensional pieces, and the written word. This includes the poem Blood on the Bluff by Donney Rose, which details the 1972 killing of two students by sheriff deputies.
Timeline
November 16, 1972: Two Southern University students killed by sheriff deputies.
August 1-23, 2026: Previous exhibition hosted visitors and provided bus transportation.
October 28, 2026: The exhibition is currently open to the public.
November 19, 2026: Final day of the Lightwork exhibition.
Industry Dynamics
The exhibition uses the 1972 killing of two Southern University students as a foundation to explore deep-seated local history. This continues a trend of university galleries utilizing art to process traumatic historical events and maintain community dialogue.
The gallery is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Visitors can view the collection in Frank Hayden Hall until the show closes on November 19, 2026.
The takeaway
Visitors can experience a wide variety of mediums including written word and collage in this collaborative showcase. The exhibition provides a unique opportunity to engage with local history through the lens of multiple generations of artists.
Further reading
For more exhibits in the area, visit the Fine Art section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Advocate.
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