There’s something special happening in the South right now for admirers of artist Amy Sherald. 

As audiences travel to the High Museum of Art to experience American Sublime — the artist’s widely celebrated exhibition showcasing her powerful, poetic portraits — there’s another destination waiting just 90 minutes south: Columbus, Georgia, the hometown that helped shape her story. 

Before her work captured international attention and became part of the national cultural conversation, Sherald was a young artist growing up in Columbus. A student of the late and beloved Gerry Davis, Sherald has said in multiple interviews how essential a role her hometown has played in her development as an artist. Today, visitors have the unique opportunity to experience her work when they travel here to explore her hometown.  

At The Columbus Museum, guests can encounter Sherald’s artwork alongside an impressive collection of American art and regional history inside one of the Southeast’s most thoughtfully reimagined museums. Visitors to the museum can expect to see Sherald’s famous What's different about Alice is that she has the most incisive way of telling the truth, as well as a new portrait of the artist by famous artist and fellow Columbus native Bo Bartlett.  

Speaking of Bo Bartlett, many people do not realize his connection to Sherald. When she was a little girl, Sherald visited The Columbus Museum on a field trip that she says changed her life. She and her class rounded a corner at the museum and saw Bartlett’s Object Permanence painting (pictured below). Sherald recalls being absolutely enthralled with it because it was the first piece of art in which she saw a person of color depicted. Seeing representation in art of people who looked like her made her realize she could become an artist. Today, the Bo Bartlett Center at Columbus State University in Uptown Columbus houses Object Permanence. When you visit Columbus, Georgia, make a point to go see the painting that changed Amy Sherald’s life! 

As you make your plans, know that any trip to Columbus will undoubtedly become more than an art tour. From the time you arrive, your visit will naturally transform into an invitation to experience the city that continues to nurture creativity along the banks of the Chattahoochee River. Here, vibrant museums, independent restaurants, historic neighborhoods, public art, live music, and walkable districts come together to create a destination rich with authenticity and imagination. The food is also incredible, and our chefs play an enormous part in bringing visitors back here for more.  

So, whether you’re planning a weekend getaway centered around the arts or simply extending your visit by a night after seeing American Sublime in Atlanta, Columbus offers visitors the chance to experience not only Amy Sherald’s work — but the sense of place that helped shape one of America’s most celebrated contemporary artists of all time.  

Need some other ideas for things to do while you’re here? Head to our blog page to find a series of trip ideas and itineraries for all ages, interests, and lifestyles. Thanks for traveling! 

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Arts / Family-friendly / Itineraries / Trip Ideas