Our exhibitions reflect the museum’s broad, interdisciplinary approach, educating
visitors about the diversity and richness found throughout the South. Find out what you can see, learn and experience on your next visit.
Physical Exhibits
Paths to Freedom by John Dowell
June 12 - December 16, 2023
Philadelphia artist John Dowell's digitally-altered photographs, staged in moonlit
cottonfields, conjure the spirits of his enslaved ancestors as they sought their freedom
from bondage. Inspired by a series of dreams of his grandmother, this exhibition contemplates
the ancestral legacy of slavery and the power of intergenerational connections. Viewers
are taken on an immersive journey via artwork, installation, and soundscape through
the darkness toward freedom.
Needlework: Women's Unspoken Art Form
May 15 to August 31, 2023
More than a required skill for girls and women in the 19th century, hand sewing was
an act of creative expression. From functional household textiles, to clothing, to
home décor accents, small embellishments made a big statement as an indicator of women's
artistry and imagination. This exhibition asks viewers to closely examine the quality
of the needlework, rather than the type of textile, on display.
Natural Curiosity: The University of South Carolina and the Evolution of Scientific
Inquiry in the Natural World
Explore your own “natural curiosity” in this exhibit that highlights the treasures
of nature, and the evolution of the field of natural history. Visitors can learn
from authentic objects or use newly installed touchscreens to dive deeper into McKissick
collections and explore the lives of Historic Southern Naturalists.
Invitation to Explore
This exhibit gives visitors an introduction to the many types of objects that McKissick
Museum collects, including university history, fine art, southeastern folklife, natural
history, and more. Visitors can also see the University’s mace and medallion, which
are on display when they are not in use at commencement ceremonies. This exhibition
is changed out annually to rest objects that have been on display and to highlight
new acquisitions.