For more than 60 years, the Delta exhibition has elevated and promoted awareness of artists born in or working in Arkansas and its surrounding states: Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts in Little Rock is presenting the Delta Triennial through August 25, 2024.
Founded by AMFA in 1958 as a juried exhibition, the Delta is named after the fertile floodplains surrounding the Mississippi River and seeks to amplify artistic voices in the Mid-South as they reflect complex histories and shifts in the cultural landscape. Since establishing the Delta exhibition, AMFA has consistently collected art produced by artists from the Mid-South and displayed it in context with our nationally and internationally recognized collection. In so doing, AMFA elevates awareness of the artistic diversity of the region and illustrates that American art is not monolithic but comprised of many voices.
Over time, the Delta exhibition has transformed into a collaborative series, Delta Voices: Artists of the Mid-South, developed in partnership with museums across the region, and has now evolved into its current form as a triennial juried exhibition.
"This year, AMFA received over 1,200 applications – a record-breaking number for AMFA’s Delta exhibition" says Brian J. Lang, Chief Curator and Windgate Foundation Curator of Contemporary Craft. "The sheer volume of applicants allowed jurors to select a truly exceptional showcase of art from the Mid-South. The 2024 Delta Triennial will be a display of unparalleled creativity and talent, making it a must-see exhibition for art enthusiasts and museumgoers alike."
On July 5, 2024, the AMFA announced that the artist, Molly Kaderka, shown in the gallery above, was awarded as Grand Prize Winner of the 2024 Delta Triennial. Kaderka was presented with the Grand Prize and an award of $5,000 during the exhibition’s Member and Press Preview Event on June 27, 2024. Jurors Amy Kligman, Alexis McGrigg, and Takako Tanabe were tasked with curating the exhibition and selecting the Grand Prize winner. Brian J. Lang, AMFA’s Chief Curator and Windgate Foundation Curator of Contemporary Craft, served as the in-house curator for the exhibition.