Bernard Mattox: The Problem of the Bridge, and Chasing the Thing 50 Years On – Opening Reception

Masur Museum Main House December 3, 2026 – February 20, 2027 Bernard Mattox is a New Orleans-based artist who specializes in multi-media and ceramics, presenting his 50-year retrospective with Masur Museum. His work blends the vibrant imagery reminiscent of New Orleans street-life with totem-like figures that call to mind tribal imagery. Inspired by archeology, Mattox considers himself more of excavator than artist. His unfired ceramics and ritualistic shapes embody ancient spirits and forgotten deities. These forms evoke the history of Louisiana not just as an early settlement for European settlers, but one of the oldest sites of earthen monuments in the country, such as the ridges and mounds in Northeastern Louisiana, built by indigenous people between 1700 and 1100 BCE. Funding for the 2026 Rebirth Grant has been provided by the State of Louisiana and administered by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed by this organization do not necessarily represent those of either the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities or the State of Louisiana. Image credits: Bernard Mattox, Alters and Alleys (Series) 1, mixed media on panel, 24 x 48 x 2 in, 2026, Lemieux Galleries, Louisiana