Upcoming Exhibitions
The Bascom’s major exhibitions highlight the work of the artists who live and work in our region, Bascom instructors and students, Artist Fellows and Residents, as well as world-renowned artists whose work might not otherwise be seen in this region. The Bascom's 3 galleries and the Winkler Sculpture and Nature Trail are host to approximately 10 exhibitions each year, which pair with our Outreach and Education departments to attract 20,000 visitors to The Bascom. Free guided tours are available upon advanced request.
In this Photography Resident Exhibition, realism succumbing to abstraction or is it the other way around. Dean Kessmann presents a body of work shaped by walking, looking, and sustained attention to the everyday landscape. Produced primarily in and around Washington, DC, these photographs emerge from a practice rooted in observation, where meaning is discovered through the deliberate act of framing moments that might otherwise go unnoticed. Each image begins with a pause—an encounter with the ordinary that invites prolonged reflection rather than immediate interpretation.
- GALLERY: Joel Gallery
- ARTIST(S): Dean Kessmann
- ON DISPLAY: April 18, 2026
- THROUGH: August 22, 2026
- MEDIUM(S): Photography
As the John C. Campbell Folk School celebrates its 100th anniversary, this exhibit highlights the range of craft and other traditions taught at this Appalachian institution. 50 objects on display represent a variety of media including blacksmithing, weaving, woodcarving, woodworking, dance, instrument making, pottery, enameling, basketry, and paper arts. This exhibit honors the many instructors who have been part of the Folk School during its first century, passing down their craft to new generations of artists and tradition bearers.
- GALLERY: Bunzl Gallery
- ARTIST(S): Various
- ON DISPLAY: May 9, 2026
- THROUGH: August 8, 2026
- MEDIUM(S): Various
As Georgia is known for its peaches and New Orleans for its jazz, so too is Western North Carolina known for its high quality craft. What makes WNC a center of craft is the artists’ knowledge of natural materials and their connection to the place that provides them. Their hand skill and imagination nurture both innovative and traditional handcraft practices that exist side by side in a thriving creative economy.
- GALLERY: Thompson Gallery
- ARTIST(S): Various
- ON DISPLAY: May 16, 2026
- THROUGH: July 25, 2026
- MEDIUM(S): Various
This exhibition honors the women whose artistic contributions have shaped, strengthened, and expanded the cultural landscape of the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau and the broader Southern Appalachian region. Bringing together works across media, Voices of Influence reflects the impact of women as artists, mentors, teachers, and community builders, and highlights their creative legacies.
- GALLERY: Thompson Gallery
- ARTIST(S): Various
- ON DISPLAY: August 8, 2026
- THROUGH: November 28, 2026
After a life-changing summer studying at Black Mountain College, Boston-based artist Jo Sandman decided to devote her life to art. At BMC during that pivotal summer of 1951, she studied painting with Robert Motherwell and Ben Shahn; drawing with Joseph Fiore, photography with Harry Callahan and Aaron Siskind; anthropology and French. It was this “galvanizing experience” at BMC that prompted Jo Sandman to decide to follow the path of an artist. She went on to develop and maintain a studio practice exploring painting, drawing, experimental sculpture, installation, and photography for more than sixty years. Her restless curiosity always led the way towards experimentation with a wide variety of imagery, materials, and processes.
- GALLERY: Bunzl Gallery
- ARTIST(S): Jo Sandman
- ON DISPLAY: August 22, 2026
- THROUGH: January 9, 2027
- MEDIUM(S): Various
Presented in advance of The Bascom’s celebrated 2026 Clay Symposium, this exhibition brings together work by Andrew Godfrey Shaw, Alexander Thierry, and Tiffany Thomas, offering an in-depth look at three contemporary voices shaping the field of ceramics today. This exhibition introduces audiences to the artistic perspectives and material investigations that will later animate the symposium’s demonstrations and dialogue, scheduled for September 26.
- GALLERY: Joel Gallery
- ARTIST(S): Andrew Godfrey Shaw, Alexander Thierry, and Tiffany Thomas
- ON DISPLAY: September 5, 2026
- THROUGH: November 16, 2026
- MEDIUM(S): Ceramics
Current Exhibitions
Biennial Outdoor Sculpture Program 2024 - 2026
In its fourth year, The Outdoor Sculpture Program features new works by celebrated local and regional artists on The Bascom Campus along the Horst Winkler Sculpture Trail...
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Emergence: A Survey of Southeastern Studio Programs (2026)
Emergence places mentorship at its center, emphasizing the transformative role of teaching and guidance in nurturing artistic growth. This exhibition explores the...
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Ships We Keep (Winter Resident Artist Exhibition)
This winter, The Bascom welcomes sculptor and educator Casey Schachner as the 2026 Winter Resident Artist. An Associate Professor of Art at Georgia Southern University,...
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Bascom Instructor Showcase
This exhibition honors the vital contributions of visiting artist educators whose creativity and mentorship have enriched The Bascom’s programming. Featuring works across...
See MoreTHE BASCOM WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR EXHIBITION SPONSORS
Debi and David Bock
Marty and Dan Boone
Virginia and Mike Campbell
Hillary Cone
Claire and Alex Crumbley
Susan Day
Margaret and Dallas Denny
Lynn DeVault and Glo Ghegan
Martha and Michael Dupuis
Ruthie and Berryman Edwards
Beverly Ellars
Sue Emanuelson, Murphy Townsend, and Gregor Turk
Cathy and Bob Fisher
Marylon Glass
Louree and Bill Greehey
Nancy and Charles Harrison
Kendra and Rick Hildbold
Jo and Jack Hill
Kathleen and Christopher Hohlstein
Maudie and Bill Huff
Gail Coutcher Hughes and T im Hughes
Jane Jerry
Elizabeth and Bill Jump
Ann Klamon
Frank Langford
Dianne and Myron Mall
Marianne and Mark Mahaffey
Heath Massey and John Mitchener
Anita and Larry Maxwell
Diane and Ray McPhail
Melissa and William Meyers
Carol Misner and Ann Huckstep
Charlene and Tony Palmisano
Kathy and Tony Prosser
Nancy and Kevin Race
The Estate of Cary Saurage
Anneli and Robert Thiebaut
Mary Thompson
Marcia and Charlie Weber
Vance and Willis Willey
Leonard and Carla Wood
Ann Wrobleski
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Visit: 323 Franklin Road
Highlands, NC 28741 (Map It)
Call: 828-526-4949 (Main)
828-787-2892 (Ceramics Studio)
This project was supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Learn more at NCArts.org
Funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. Learn more at SouthArts.org.
Funding is due in part to a Tourism Grant with Visit Highlands, NC. Learn more HighlandsChamber.org