Shaped by Hand brings together a dynamic selection of three-dimensional works from the museum’s permanent collection, celebrating the depth and diversity of artistic practice across Alabama. Featuring both longtime visitor favorites and recent acquisitions, the exhibition highlights the museum’s ongoing commitment to collecting and preserving works by artists connected to the state and region.
Working across materials including glass, paper, wood, ceramic, and mixed media, the artists in this exhibition transform everyday and traditional materials into expressive, tactile forms. Some works explore craftsmanship and process, while others investigate memory, place, identity, and abstraction. Together, these sculptures and objects invite viewers to slow down, and consider the physical presence of art in new ways.
By focusing primarily on artists from Alabama, Shaped by Hand offers a glimpse into the richness of creative voices shaping the state’s contemporary art landscape. The exhibition reflects both the history of the museum’s collection and its continued evolution through new acquisitions, creating a conversation between familiar works and fresh additions that expand the story of WMA’s permanent collection.
