New Orleans has a joyful reason to return to the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. Burke’s Delight: The Stacey and Michael Burke Collection, on view through February 28, 2027, celebrates a remarkable recent gift of more than 80 works by more than 50 artists from across the American South.
For 45 years, Michael Burke — later joined by his wife Stacey — sought out self-taught artists in flea markets, auctions, galleries and, most importantly, in their own studios and homes. The result is a collection built on authenticity and ingenuity, now entrusted to the Ogden so future generations can enjoy it. Iconic works by Bill Traylor, Sam Doyle and Nellie Mae Rowe hang alongside lesser-known creators whose contributions have long deserved a wider audience.
The paintings, drawings and sculptures often use unconventional materials and techniques, yet they speak with warmth and clarity about the themes that shape Southern life: family, tradition, the land, community, memory, spirituality and resilience. It is art made from lived experience, full of color, humor and heart.
Alongside the main exhibition, the museum also showcases the Face Jugs from the Stacey and Michael Burke Collection, a unique selection of Southern ceramics with expressive, unforgettable faces.
The Ogden, at 925 Camp Street, is known for telling the Story of the South through its artists. With Burke’s Delight, that story grows richer, more diverse and more delightful. Plan a leisurely visit, linger with a favorite work, and discover a new one.
Photo: Ogden Museum of Southern Art
