Art Bridges Foundation Loans to Enhance Wiregrass Museum of Art’s Permanent Collection with Key Works of American Art
DOTHAN, AL January 6, 2025 The Wiregrass Museum of Art (WMA) is pleased to announce the upcoming installation of two significant American artworks on loan from the Art Bridges Foundation—Alice Trumbull Mason’s Magnitude of Regions (1962) and Sam Gilliam’s Lilly (1971)—on view in the museum’s permanent collection galleries from January 16, 2026, through June 27, 2026. In keeping with the museum’s mission to inspire a lifelong appreciation for the visual arts through the collection and exhibition of quality works, the loans expand opportunities for visitors to engage with important examples of American abstraction.
The works will be presented within a focused installation that places Art Bridges’ iconic examples of postwar abstraction in dialogue with selections from WMA’s permanent collection. This small but powerful grouping brings together works that share dynamic compositional elements—such as rhythm, color, gesture, and spatial complexity—while representing artists working both within and beyond the Abstract Expressionist movement.
Alice Trumbull Mason’s Magnitude of Regions exemplifies her rigorous approach to abstraction through bold geometry and carefully orchestrated movement. Although Mason played a vital role in the development of American abstraction in the mid-twentieth century, her contributions have only recently begun to receive broader recognition.
Sam Gilliam’s Lilly highlights the artist’s innovative use of color and surface during a pivotal moment in his career. Gilliam’s work challenged traditional definitions of painting and expanded the expressive possibilities of abstraction, leaving a lasting impact on subsequent generations of artists.
Surrounding these loans are works from WMA’s permanent collection by artists such as Richard Crist, Derek Cracco, Joan Miró, and others, whose practices engage similar visual concerns while emerging from different artistic movements and contexts.
“By integrating these important works into our permanent collection galleries, we are able to create new conversations across movements and generations,” said Dana-Marie Lemmer, Executive Director and Curator. “Partnerships like this allow us to engage diverse audiences while offering access to exceptional works of American art they might not otherwise be able to see.”
The installation is made possible through the generosity of the Art Bridges Foundation, which works to expand access to American art through loans, partnerships, and educational initiatives that connect museums with communities nationwide.
About Art Bridges
Founded by philanthropist Alice Walton, Art Bridges Foundation expands access to American art across the United States by sharing outstanding works with museums and supporting programs that strengthen engagement with diverse audiences.
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