New Orleans is once again shining a spotlight on its own. Louisiana Contemporary 2026, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art’s beloved annual juried exhibition, presented by The Helis Foundation, is now on view through February 14, 2027, and it is a joyful survey of the creativity thriving across the state.
This year’s edition was selected by juror Sarah Jones, the Lulu C. and Anthony W. Wang Head of Live Arts at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, who chose 50 works by 45 artists from more than 1,786 submissions. Twenty-eight of the artists are participating for the first time, which gives the show a special charge of discovery: fresh voices hang alongside returning favorites, in media that range from painting and photography to sculpture and mixed media.
Since its launch in 2012, Louisiana Contemporary has presented work by more than 650 artists, growing into a signature moment on the national arts calendar and a yearly reminder of how much talent lives and works in Louisiana. The Ogden, in the heart of the Arts District on Camp Street, is the perfect home for it.
Plan a visit, wander Julia Street’s galleries while you are in the neighborhood, and go find your new favorite Louisiana artist. Happy City News bets you will leave with at least one.
Photo: Yair Haklai, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
