NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Ogden Museum of Southern Art announced the artists selected for the 2025 edition of Louisiana Contemporary, presented by The Helis Foundation, the museum’s annual juried exhibition featuring work by contemporary artists from across the state. This year’s juror, Daniel S. Palmer, chief curator at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Museum of Art, has selected 53 works by 50 artists from 1,421 submissions. Louisiana Contemporary, presented by The Helis Foundation, will be on view at Ogden Museum Aug. 2 through Jan. 4, 2026.
Ogden Museum first launched Louisiana Contemporary in 2012 to engage artists living in Louisiana and to highlight the dynamism of art practice throughout the state. Since the inaugural exhibition 13 years ago, Ogden Museum shares it has shown works by over 600 artists, making Louisiana Contemporary an important moment in the national arts calendar to recognize and experience the spectrum and vitality of artistic voices emanating from New Orleans and art communities across Louisiana.
“For over a decade this exhibition has presented a vital community of artists who’ve chosen to live and work here, beginning with a celebration of their art during White Linen Night,” said William Andrews, The Helis Foundation executive director, Ogden Museum of Southern Art. “In addition to local and regional recognition, each year these artists gain international exposure through the work of the selected jurors, highlighting our city’s visibility as an important international art center.”
The roster of 2025 ar:sts include:
• Vee Adams (New Orleans, LA)
• Natalie Armstrong (West Monroe, LA)
• Jourdan Barnes (New Orleans, LA)
• Megan Barra (Lafayette, LA)
• Erin Bennee (Carencro, LA)
• Jessica Bertsch (New Orleans, LA)
• Courtney Buckley (New Orleans, LA)
• Annelise Kristine Contini (New Orleans, LA)
• Dartanya Croff (New Orleans, LA)
• Brandon Felix (New Orleans, LA)
• Laura Gipson (New Orleans, LA)
• Ronna S. Harris (New Orleans, LA)
• Lois Hébert (Baton Rouge, LA)
• Sally Heller (New Orleans, LA)
• Deniz Türkoğlu Hewes (New Orleans, LA)
• André Hubbard (New Orleans, LA)
• Kathryn Hunter (Baton Rouge, LA)
• Susan Ireland (New Orleans, LA)
• Jeremy Jernegan (New Orleans, LA)
• Miles B. Jordan (New Orleans, LA)
• Mary J. Kirsch (Mandeville, LA)
• Frahn Koerner (New Orleans, LA)
• Lily LaGrange (New Orleans, LA)
• Diego Larguia (New Orleans, LA)
• Katie LaRocca (New Orleans, LA)
• Andrew Liles (New Orleans, LA)
• Ka?e McCall (New Orleans, LA)
• Moneee McCullough (Baton Rouge, LA)
• Bridget McEnerney (New Orleans, LA)
• Khalil McKnight (Ponchatoula, LA)
• Joelle Nagy (Baton Rouge, LA)
• Dominick Navarra (New Orleans, LA)
• Dung “Donkey” Nguyen (Avondale, LA)
• Nikki Nolan (New Orleans, LA)
• Karen Ocker (New Orleans, LA)
• Rhee Pritchard (ChalmeEe, LA)
• Maehew Rosenbeck (New Orleans, LA)
• Taylor Sacco (New Orleans, LA)
• Katie Singleton (Folsom, LA)
• Melissa Smith (New Orleans, LA)
• Billy Solitario (New Orleans, LA)
• Alice St. Germain (New Orleans, LA)
• Holly Sutherlin (New Orleans, LA)
• Lue Svendson (LafayeEe, LA)
• Whitney Tates (Shreveport, LA)
• Trenity Thomas (Westwego, LA)
• Emery Tillman (New Orleans, LA)
• Paige Valente (New Orleans, LA)
• Natalie Vitrano (Jefferson, LA)
• William Willoughby (Baton Rouge, LA)
Juror Daniel S. Palmer shares, “I was absolutely blown away by the nearly 1,500 artworks submitted to this year’s Louisiana Contemporary, presented by The Helis Foundation open call! What an inspiring outpouring of creative excellence. There was a massive range of inventive approaches, and every artwork I reviewed reflected the incredible sense of beauty and community that thrives in this singular place. I hope that the selection on display at Ogden Museum encourages visitors to keep searching out the vibrancy that exists all around them. Above all, the passionate dedication of every artist in this state should inspire the rest of the world to take note!”
Each year, with support from The Helis Foundation, Ogden Museum honors four of the presenting artists, highlighting some of the most provocative and compelling works in the exhibition. The four awards come with grants and special recognition at the museum. The recipient of the lead award, The Helis Foundation Art Prize, will receive the unrestricted grant of $5,000. Awards will be given by Palmer at a private reception for Louisiana Contemporary artists on Aug. 1, and will be publicly announced on Aug. 2.
“Each year, I’m deeply impressed not only by the number of submissions the Museum receives, but also by the incredible quality and diversity of the work,” said Amy Newell, director of exhibitions, Ogden Museum of Southern Art. “Louisiana Contemporary, presented by The Helis Foundation is my favorite project of the year—the opportunity to meet and connect with so many talented artists from across the state is truly a highlight for me. This year, 35 of the 50 selected artists are new to the exhibition, while 15 have exhibited in Louisiana Contemporary in the past. I’m always thrilled to welcome back returning artists and just as excited to meet new ones. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how this exhibition continues to grow—rooted in tradition, yet fresh and evolving every year.”
Louisiana Contemporary, presented by The Helis Foundation, will open to the public on August 2, during Fidelity Bank White Linen Night, a community celebration of art and culture.
Louisiana Contemporary is made possible by presenting sponsor, The Helis Foundation. Stay tuned for more information on special programming for the 2025 edition of Louisiana Contemporary, presented by The Helis Foundation.
