Event Calendar
The Meridian Museum of Art is your hub for creativity, culture, and community connection. Throughout the year, our calendar is filled with exhibitions, workshops, artist talks, family activities, and special celebrations designed to inspire visitors of all ages. Whether you’re here to discover thought-provoking contemporary works, explore local talent, or enjoy hands-on experiences, there’s always something new to see and do.
We welcome art lovers, families, and curious minds to join us in celebrating the visual arts and the stories they tell. From seasonal showcases to community-driven projects, each event offers a unique opportunity to engage with the arts and connect with others in an inspiring setting.
Explore the full calendar to plan your next visit—and be part of Meridian’s vibrant art scene.
52nd Annual Bi-State Competition & Exhibition
The annual Bi-State is a juried exhibition by the Meridian Museum of Art. It offers over $3,000 in awards and prizes, including the $1,000 Best of Show Cash Award. The exhibition aims to showcase contemporary artists in Mississippi and Alabama and reward their efforts. On exhibit from August 21 - October 10, 2026.
Artist Talk: Steber, Phillips, Howse
Meet the Artists – June 30 at 1 PM
Join us at the Meridian Museum of Art for a special gallery talk with exhibiting artists Bill Steber and Gary Howse. Hear Steber discuss his decades-long documentation of Mississippi blues culture through Stones in My Pathway and learn how Howse's paintings and mixed media works explore memory, faith, and rural Mississippi life.
While Stephen Phillips is unable to join us on June 30, visitors can still enjoy his remarkable ceramic works in the exhibition. We look forward to welcoming him for a future program, so stay tuned for details.
This is a wonderful opportunity to hear directly from the artists, ask questions, and gain deeper insight into the exhibition.
Free and open to the public.
ARTinis at the Museum
Join us for ARTinis, Meridian Museum of Art’s signature annual fundraiser, on Thursday, June 18, from 6–8 p.m. at the Meridian Museum of Art, 628 25th Ave, Meridian, MS 39301. Enjoy a fun-filled evening of art, food, drinks, and community while supporting the arts in Meridian.
This year’s theme, Channeling Phyllis Diller, celebrates bold creativity, humor, individuality, and expressive flair, inspired by the legendary comedian’s appearance at Meridian’s Temple Theatre in 1974 as part of a museum-hosted presentation. Guests can browse and bid in a silent auction featuring original 8x8 artworks created by local and regional artists, enjoy delicious food and specialty drinks, and connect with fellow art lovers.
Tickets are $25 for museum members and $35 for non-members. If you are interested in donating artwork for the auction, please call the museum for details: (601) 693-1501. Proceeds from ARTinis support the museum’s exhibitions, educational programs, and community outreach efforts throughout the year. Come celebrate creativity, support local artists, and help make the museum’s programs possible!
Steber/Phillips/Howse Exhibit
Bill Steber
Bill Steber is an award-winning photographer, musician, and documentary artist best known for his decades-long exploration of Mississippi blues culture. Through his acclaimed project Stones in My Pathway, he has documented the musicians, landscapes, traditions, and communities that shaped the blues, creating a lasting visual record of the state's cultural heritage. His work combines documentary photography with historic photographic processes, preserving the rich history and spirit of the American South.
Stephen Phillips
Stephen Phillips is a ceramic artist from Crawford, Mississippi, whose handcrafted vessels balance function, craftsmanship, and contemporary design. His work is distinguished by refined forms, geometric surface patterns, and rich contrasts of texture and color created through underglazes, glazing techniques, and raku firing. Inspired by faith, nature, and the handmade tradition, Phillips' ceramics celebrate both technical skill and artistic expression.
Gary Howse
Gary Howse is a Mississippi mixed-media artist whose paintings and drawings explore themes of memory, faith, family, and rural Southern life. Drawing from personal experiences and the landscapes of Mississippi, his narrative works weave together symbolism and storytelling to examine identity, history, and the connections between people and place.
Mindfulness Painting with Brejenn Allen
Mindfulness Painting with Brejenn Allen, Friday, March 27, 4 P.M.
Member Exhibition
Over 70 artworks from our talented member artists are on display this winter. Artists included are: Tim Allred, Kathie Baeuerlin, Linda Baxter, Martha Buckley, Kathy A. Dearman, Denise Dengler, Daniel "fuzzfur" Ethridge, Keith Everett, Sylvia Follis, Wade Follis, Trish Frazier, Kris Gianakos, Jill Hammes, Neil Hatten, Cary "InkStick" Haycox, Katheryn Higginbotham, Martha Hopkins, Sharon Howard, Gary Howse, Marsha Iverson, Bob Jeffares, Rosemary Kahlmus, Marty McIntyre, Charlie Muñoz, Linda Muñoz, Wanda Price, Larry Primeaux, Joy Stevenson, Terrell Taylor, Kate Vaughns, and Caulene Wilkinson.
Holiday Gala
Join us for an elegant evening at the Meridian Museum of Art’s 2025 Holiday Gala!
On Saturday, December 13 from 5:30–7:30 PM, we invite members, patrons, sponsors, and artists to celebrate another remarkable year of art, community, and creativity.
Guests will enjoy cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and a special performance by Mary Catherine Pogue. Dress in cocktail attire, or show your creative spirit by coming as your favorite artist or artwork.
This year, we offer special recognition to Heritage Building Corporation and Allred Investments, LLC, along with our many sponsors, grantors, and dedicated supporters who make the Museum’s mission possible.
The evening also highlights our exhibiting member artists, whose work will be displayed through January 2026.
For more information, call 601-693-1501.
Come celebrate art, community, and the supporters who make it all thrive.
All Around Mississippi Painters Exhibition
We’re proud to present the All Around Mississippi Exhibit, featuring the incredible works of Pat Abernathy, Tim Allred, and Mary Louise Porter.
The exhibition will be on view: October 9 – November 29, 2025.
Join us for the Opening Reception during the Downtown Meridian Art Crawl on Thursday, October 9, from 5–8 PM.
Come celebrate Mississippi talent and enjoy an evening of art, community, and creativity!
All Around Mississippi Painters Reception & Downtown Art Crawl
We’re proud to present the All Around Mississippi Exhibit, featuring the incredible works of Pat Abernathy, Tim Allred, and Mary Louise Porter.
The exhibition will be on view: October 9 – November 29, 2025.
Join us for the Opening Reception during the Downtown Meridian Art Crawl on Thursday, October 9, from 5–8 PM.
Come celebrate Mississippi talent and enjoy an evening of art, community, and creativity!
Wheel Thrown Pottery Class
Terry Cherry is a respected educator, workshop instructor, demonstrator, lecturer, and juror with a distinguished career spanning nearly five decades in museums and galleries. He has been actively involved with the Meridian Museum of Art since the mid-1970s, serving on and chairing both the Exhibition and Education Committees.
Cherry’s artwork has been showcased in numerous solo and group exhibitions, juried competitions, and art festivals across the country. He was recognized as a Distinguished Art Alumnus by Mississippi College, where he earned his Master of Arts in Painting. Over his 34-year tenure as an art educator at East Mississippi Community College, he received multiple honors, including the Humanities Teacher Award and the HEADWAE Instructor Award. His legacy reflects a lifelong commitment to the arts and arts education.
All supplies and materials will be provided for the class.
Bi-State Art Competition and Exhibition
Selected pieces from the Permanent Collection and invited previous Bi-State Artists over its first fifty years.