The Ogden Museum To Debut New Work From Oravetz In ‘Louisiana Contemporary’ 2026

Ogden Museum of Southern Art Announces Artists for the 2026 edition of Louisiana Contemporary, presented by The Helis Foundation

(NEW ORLEANS, LA) – Ogden Museum of Southern Art announced today the artists selected for the 2026 edition of Louisiana Contemporary, presented by The Helis Foundation, the Museum’s annual juried exhibition celebrating contemporary artists from across the state. reflecting the exhibition’s ongoing commitment to new ideas, this year’s selection includes 28 artists participating for the first time. Juror Sarah Jones, Lulu C. and Anthony W. Wang Head of Live Arts at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, selected 50 works by 45 artists. Louisiana Contemporary, presented by The Helis Foundation, will be on view at Ogden Museum from August 1, 2026, through February 14, 2027.

Ogden Museum first launched Louisiana Contemporary in 2012 to celebrate artists living in Louisiana and showcase the vitality of artistic practice across the state. Since the inaugural exhibition 14 years ago, the Museum has presented work by more than 650 artists, establishing Louisiana Contemporary as a key moment on the national arts calendar that recognizes and celebrates the breadth of creative voices emerging from New Orleans and arts communities throughout Louisiana.

“Each year, Louisiana Contemporary reminds me of the remarkable depth of artistic talent across our region,” shares Amy Newell, Director of Exhibitions, Ogden Museum of Southern Art. “I’m continually inspired not only by the volume of submissions we receive, but by the originality, ambition, and diversity of the work. This year, 28 of the 45 selected artists are exhibiting in Louisiana Contemporary for the first time, while 17 are returning participants.

Welcoming new voices alongside artists who have helped shape the exhibition over the years is one of the most rewarding aspects of this process. Each exhibition builds on the legacy of those before it while introducing fresh perspectives, ensuring that Louisiana Contemporary continues to evolve and reflect the dynamic landscape of art in our state.”

Working space in Terlingua, Texas, 2024. DeShawn Oravetz

The roster of 2026 artists include:
Nathalia Toledo Barcia, Donald Beale, Erin Bennett, Thom Bennett, Farah Billah, Josiah Bolth, Marcus Brown, Ryan Burns, Owen Canter, Kathryn Citrin, Tai Collins, James Constantine, Justine Crowley, Margaret Davis, Emily Ezell, Brandon Felix, Sarita Fonseca, Lizz Freeman, Jessica Goldfinch, Jennifer Graycheck, Brandon Holland, William Howell, AndreÅL Hubbard, Giani Jones, Kay Breaux Livaudais, Sara Madandar, Kristin Meyers, Joshua Mintz, Jacob Mitchell, Madeline Monlezun, Coby Naquin, Adam Newman, Emi O’Brochta, DeShawn Oravetz, Pablo Perez-Castroman, Tyler Russell, Pamela Skehan, Billy Solitario, Alexander Stolin, Trenity Thomas, Angela Lynn Tucker, Catherine Walker, Sydney Walker, Tom Walton, Antonia Zennaro

Juror Sarah Jones shares, “It was a deep honor and privilege to make the selections for this year's Louisiana Contemporary at the Ogden. I was thrilled to see artists taking risks across a breadth of mediums without sacrificing depth or excellence. I’m looking forward to celebrating this phenomenal cohort of Louisiana artists, whose work carries such tenderness, joy, provocation, and rigor.”

With support from The Helis Foundation, Ogden Museum recognizes four exhibiting artists whose work stands out for its originality and artists’ merit. Each award includes a grant and special recognition at the Museum. The exhibition's top honor, The Helis Foundation Art Prize, includes an unrestricted $5,000 grant. Jones will present the awards at an artists’ reception for Louisiana Contemporary, presented by The Helis Foundation, artists on July 31, ahead of the public opening of the exhibition, on August 1 during Fidelity Bank White Linen Night, a community-wide celebration of art and culture.

About Sarah Jones
Sarah Jones is the Lulu C. and Anthony W. Wang Head of Live Arts at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. She oversees the department and its programming, which presents and commissions works of performance, including music, dance, related hybrids, and site-specific projects, often in collaboration with the Museum’s Collection and Exhibitions. Her innovative methods to deepening audience engagement with visual art has been pivotal in expanding how the Museum embraces the live, the experimental, and the urgent. Previously she acted as Chief of Staff and Director of Public Programs at Gagosian. In 2018, she established and led the gallery’s department overseeing global public programming and performance commissions, collaborating with artists including Kyle Abraham, Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah, Aaron Diehl, Missy Mazzoli, Rashaun Mitchell + Silas Reiner, Jason Moran, Samora Pinderhughes, Vernon Reid, Raphael Saadiq, Isabella Summers, Youth Orchestra Los Angeles, and John Zorn, among others. A trusted leader and strategist, Sarah helped shape the gallery’s approach to performance, artist relations, and storytelling across global exhibitions and special projects. She is a 2025 Lunder Institute for American Art Fellow and she serves as President of the Board of Directors of The Kitchen, is a Board Member of ISCP and is in Performance Space New York’s Visionary Circle.

Ogden Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Museum is located at 925 Camp Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130. For more information visit ogdenmuseum.org or call 504.539.9650.