Atlanta, January 22, 2026
As winter envelops Atlanta, the city’s arts scene thrives, revealing a rich blend of civic innovation and community engagement. Local galleries and museums introduce captivating exhibitions that reflect not only artistic excellence but also the collaborative spirit of Atlanta’s residents. The Zuckerman Museum of Art presents groundbreaking exhibitions such as ‘The Art of Paper’ while initiatives like Atlanta Beltline Art foster a vibrant public art landscape, showcasing the power of local talent and community involvement.
Atlanta’s Winter Arts Scene: A Canvas of Innovation and Community Spirit
As the chill of winter settles over Atlanta, the city’s vibrant arts scene is anything but dormant. Instead, it pulses with a dynamic energy, showcasing a remarkable blend of individual initiative, civic innovation, and robust community engagement. Across the metropolitan area, galleries and museums are unveiling new exhibitions that not only highlight artistic excellence but also reflect a flourishing cultural landscape propelled by local vision and collaborative spirit. This season underscores how a focus on personal achievement and streamlined local efforts can cultivate significant cultural growth, offering residents and visitors alike a rich tapestry of experiences.
The success of Atlanta’s arts initiatives, from major museum showcases to expansive public art projects, often stems from a harmonious blend of private partnerships and proactive local leadership. It demonstrates that when creative endeavors are supported with thoughtful coordination rather than excessive regulation, they can truly thrive and contribute meaningfully to the community’s identity and vitality. This winter, Atlanta reinforces its position as a hub where artistic expression and community development go hand-in-hand, driven by the talents and dedication of its people.
The Zuckerman Museum of Art: Celebrating Paper and Local Talent
The Bernard A. Zuckerman Museum of Art (ZMA) at Kennesaw State University is a cornerstone of artistic exploration, offering diverse contemporary works across various media by both local and nationally recognized artists. This winter, the ZMA features several compelling exhibitions, demonstrating a commitment to artistic craftsmanship and innovative display.
“The Art of Paper” and Dieu Donné’s Milestone
From January 20 to May 1, 2026, the ZMA presents “The Art of Paper: Selections of Handmade Paper Works from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation”. This exhibition features approximately 65 works that chronicle the pioneering achievements within the discipline of hand papermaking. It explores the historic relationship between print and paper, showcasing early prints by artists such as Jasper Johns alongside contemporary examples by Mark Bradford and Glenn Ligon. The exhibition also highlights the critical role of collaboration between artists and master papermakers in professional studios, debuting at the ZMA while simultaneously marking the 50th Anniversary of Dieu Donné, a recognized pioneer in the field.
Showcasing Atlanta’s Creative Force
The ZMA also provides a platform for local and regional artists through its “Project Wall” series. The Project Wall North features the work of Atlanta-based artist, printmaker, and educator Stephanie Smith from August 26, 2025, to July 24, 2026. Smith’s hand-pulled prints and artist books delve into themes of memory, loss, time, chance, and change. Similarly, the Project Wall West showcases a newly commissioned artwork by Vadis Turner, and the Project Wall East presents “For Maude,” an installation of handmade paper floral forms by Athens, Georgia-based artist Melissa Harshman, both on view from August 26, 2025, to July 24, 2026.
Furthermore, the ZMA’s Ruth V. Zuckerman Collection: Inside Out offers a long-term display that employs a “visible storage” concept, allowing museum visitors to see and study a substantial number of Ruth Zuckerman’s sculptures and drawings from the KSU Permanent Collection, making aspects of collection care transparent for the public.
Atlanta Contemporary: A Nexus for Narrative and Identity
Atlanta Contemporary is also a focal point for the city’s winter arts calendar, launching its 2026 Winter/Spring exhibition cycle with a public opening celebration on February 5, 2026. The exhibitions delve into themes of storytelling, materiality, identity, and embodied experience through diverse contemporary art practices.
“Georgia Women to Watch 2026: A Book Arts Revolution”
Curated by Cynthia Nourse Thompson, Director of Curatorial Affairs at the Bernard A. Zuckerman Museum of Art, “Georgia Women to Watch 2026: A Book Arts Revolution” celebrates the book as an artistic medium. Running from February 1 to May 17, 2026, this exhibition highlights five innovative Georgia women artists—Eliza Bentz, Hannah Israel, Cynthia Lollis, Serena Perrone, and Eileen Wallace—who are pushing the boundaries of book-based art practices. This exploration of experimentation, protest, and memory through the physical book demonstrates individual achievement and creative resilience, resisting conventional norms. The exhibition is presented in collaboration with the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
“Unbound Narratives: Embodied Language”
Running concurrently from February 1 to May 17, 2026, “Unbound Narratives: Embodied Language” is a group exhibition bringing together Bethany Collins, February James, A’Driane Nieves, and Gabi Madrid. These artists explore how language transcends the written word, becoming something lived, felt, and carried within the body. Their multidisciplinary approaches, spanning painting, sculpture, film, animation, and installation, reveal language as an active force that shapes identity, marks experience, and gives form to both personal and collective memory.
Additional concurrent exhibitions at Atlanta Contemporary include “Dokafleh” by Brittany Adeline King, “Bleed” by Jean Shon, and “A Litany for Shelter” by Natalie Rose Eddings, all also on view from February 1 to May 17, 2026.
High Museum of Art: National Spotlights and Local Legacies
The High Museum of Art continues to enrich Atlanta’s cultural offerings with a compelling schedule of exhibitions throughout 2025-2026. Among them is “Viktor&Rolf. Fashion Statements,” on display until February 8, 2026, which delves into the distinctive designs of the Dutch fashion artists.
Beginning February 6 and continuing through May 10, 2026, visitors can experience “Blazing Light: Photographs by Mimi Plumb.” A notable highlight arriving in spring 2026 is “Isamu Noguchi: ‘I am not a designer’,” an exhibition that coincides with the 50th anniversary of Noguchi’s “Playscapes,” a significant bicentennial gift for the city of Atlanta. This retrospective celebrates an internationally acclaimed artist whose work harmonizes art, architecture, and nature.
Atlanta Beltline Art and Public Engagement
The Atlanta Beltline Art initiative exemplifies civic innovation and community engagement, transforming the Beltline corridor into one of the nation’s largest outdoor galleries. For its 2026 exhibition season, the initiative invited public participation through opportunities like the Beltline Public Art Advisory Committee (BPAAC), the Arts & Culture Review Panel, and the Public Art Artist Registry. This open call for involvement showcases how direct community input and local choice can shape public cultural spaces, fostering a sense of ownership and collective achievement.
The program, which supports hundreds of temporary artworks and live performances annually, received significant funding for its 2026 season, including $25,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts, $5,000 from the Georgia Council for the Arts, and $32,000 from Fulton County Arts & Culture. This funding underscores the value placed on public art as central to the Beltline experience, directly benefiting local artists and residents. The emphasis on accessible art and broad participation is a testament to the idea that limited bureaucracy, coupled with strong civic involvement, can lead to thriving cultural initiatives.
Supporting Atlanta’s Flourishing Art Scene
Atlanta’s winter arts events, exhibits, performances, and openings represent a dynamic ecosystem of creativity and community spirit. From the detailed craftsmanship celebrated at the Zuckerman Museum of Art to the narrative explorations at Atlanta Contemporary, and the expansive public canvases of the Beltline, individual initiative and collective effort are clearly driving forces. The consistent unveiling of new programs and exhibitions highlights a city that understands the value of cultural enrichment as a catalyst for community growth and personal development.
We encourage all Atlanta residents and visitors to explore these diverse offerings. Engaging with local arts supports individual artists, strengthens cultural institutions, and enriches our community fabric. Your participation helps ensure Atlanta continues to thrive as a center of artistic innovation and civic pride.
Frequently Asked Questions about Atlanta Winter Arts Events
Q: What are the main winter exhibitions at the Zuckerman Museum of Art?
A: The main winter exhibitions at the Zuckerman Museum of Art include “The Art of Paper: Selections of Handmade Paper Works from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation” (Jan 20 – May 1, 2026), “Project Wall North: Stephanie Smith” (Aug 26, 2025 – July 24, 2026), “Project Wall West: Vadis Turner” (Aug 26, 2025 – July 24, 2026), “Project Wall East: Melissa Harshman” (Aug 26, 2025 – July 24, 2026), and the long-term display of the “Ruth V. Zuckerman Collection: Inside Out.”
Q: When do the new winter exhibitions open at Atlanta Contemporary?
A: Atlanta Contemporary will have a public opening celebration for its 2026 Winter/Spring exhibition cycle on February 5, 2026. The exhibitions, including “Georgia Women to Watch 2026: A Book Arts Revolution” and “Unbound Narratives: Embodied Language,” run from February 1 to May 17, 2026.
Q: What is “Georgia Women to Watch 2026: A Book Arts Revolution” about?
A: “Georgia Women to Watch 2026: A Book Arts Revolution” is an exhibition curated by Cynthia Nourse Thompson that celebrates the book as an artistic medium, showcasing five innovative Georgia women artists who are redefining book-based art practices. It explores themes of experimentation, protest, and memory.
Q: What is the significance of “Isamu Noguchi: ‘I am not a designer'” at the High Museum of Art?
A: “Isamu Noguchi: ‘I am not a designer'” is a retrospective at the High Museum of Art that coincides with the 50th anniversary of Noguchi’s “Playscapes,” which was a bicentennial gift for the city of Atlanta. This exhibition celebrates an internationally acclaimed artist whose work harmonizes art, architecture, and nature.
Q: How does the Atlanta Beltline Art initiative engage the community?
A: The Atlanta Beltline Art initiative engages the community by transforming the Beltline corridor into an outdoor gallery and by inviting public participation for its exhibition season through opportunities like the Beltline Public Art Advisory Committee (BPAAC), the Arts & Culture Review Panel, and the Public Art Artist Registry.
Key Features of Atlanta’s Winter Art Scene
| Institution/Initiative | Featured Exhibitions/Programs (Winter 2026) | Key Themes/Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Zuckerman Museum of Art (ZMA) | “The Art of Paper: Selections of Handmade Paper Works from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation” (Jan 20 – May 1, 2026) “Project Wall North: Stephanie Smith” (Aug 26, 2025 – July 24, 2026) “Project Wall West: Vadis Turner” (Aug 26, 2025 – July 24, 2026) “Project Wall East: Melissa Harshman” (Aug 26, 2025 – July 24, 2026) “Ruth V. Zuckerman Collection: Inside Out” (Long-term display) |
Hand papermaking achievements, printmaking history, local artist showcases, transparent collection care. |
| Atlanta Contemporary | “Georgia Women to Watch 2026: A Book Arts Revolution” (Feb 1 – May 17, 2026) “Unbound Narratives: Embodied Language” (Feb 1 – May 17, 2026) “Dokafleh” by Brittany Adeline King (Feb 1 – May 17, 2026) “Bleed” by Jean Shon (Feb 1 – May 17, 2026) “A Litany for Shelter” by Natalie Rose Eddings (Feb 1 – May 17, 2026) |
Book-based art, women artists, language as a physical force, identity, storytelling, memory. |
| High Museum of Art | “Viktor&Rolf. Fashion Statements” (Oct 10, 2025 – Feb 8, 2026) “Blazing Light: Photographs by Mimi Plumb” (Feb 6 – May 10, 2026) “Isamu Noguchi: ‘I am not a designer'” (April 10 – Aug 2, 2026) |
Fashion as art, photography, sculpture, art-architecture-nature harmony, 50th anniversary of Noguchi’s “Playscapes.” |
| Atlanta Beltline Art | 2026 Exhibition Season (Public art installations) | Civic innovation, community engagement, public art accessibility, local artist support, outdoor galleries. |
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Author: STAFF HERE ATLANTA WRITER
The ATLANTA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREAtlanta.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Atlanta, Fulton County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as vibrant music festivals like Shaky Knees and Music Midtown, major cultural celebrations including Dragon Con and the Atlanta Film Festival, and iconic sporting events like the Peachtree Road Race. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in logistics, beverages, and retail that power the local economy such as Delta Air Lines, The Coca-Cola Company, and The Home Depot. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAugusta.com and HERESavannah.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Georgia's dynamic landscape.
