Inspired – Spring 2026

SPRING 2026

Baroque to Big Screen Caravaggio | Revolution explores the radical realism and dramatic light of Baroque painting—and its lasting influence on modern cinema.

Art looks better up here To find this mural and more only-in-Uptown adventures, visit UptownCharlotte.com or scan the QR code.

FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO

Art is for everyone Discover arts and culture at mintmuseum.org.

Spring has a way of inviting us to pause, breathe, and look at things a little differently. As the season shifts and new energy fills the air, it’s a perfect moment to reflect on how renewal shows up in our own lives. At The Mint Museum, we believe art plays a vital role in renewal, nourishing our minds, supporting our well-being, and helping us see ourselves and our world with fresh perspective.

Art has the ability to slow us down and ground us in the present moment.

Whether through the quiet contemplation of a painting, the energy of bold design, or the shared experience of gathering in the museum galleries, creative expression has been shown to reduce stress, spark curiosity, and foster connection. In a time when wellness is top of mind, we are proud to be a place where art and healthy living intersect—where inspiration is restorative.

This spring, that sense of revitalization is especially powerful in our exhibitions.

Caravaggio | Revolution invites visitors into a moment of artistic upheaval, where dramatic light, emotional realism, and fearless innovation forever changed the course of art history. Caravaggio’s work reminds us that revolution often begins with seeing differently and daring to challenge convention.

At the same time, Designing Dynamism celebrates cultural tradition, experimentation, and the vitality of modern design. Through form and movement, the exhibition highlights how creative risk-taking can energize not only objects, but the people who engage with them. Together, these exhibitions speak to the power of transformation—art as a catalyst for change, growth, and renewed perspective.

We are also launching a new program: Let the Music Play: Steinway in Residency. Funded by First Horizon Bank and in collaboration with the Steinway Piano Gallery, this program will offer piano performances by local and regional professional pianists in a variety of styles beginning with the first performance April 15 at Mint Museum Uptown.

Beyond the galleries, we look forward to one of the most anticipated events of the year: the Coveted Couture Gala. This unforgettable evening brings together art, fashion, and community in celebration of creativity and philanthropy.

Anticipate an illuminating event, that is a meaningful way to support the Mint’s mission and ensure that art remains accessible, inspiring, and impactful for all.

As we embrace this season of renewal, I invite you to visit both locations of the Mint—walk the galleries, engage your senses, and allow art to be part of your wellness journey. Thank you for being a vital part of the Mint community.

Sincerely,

Todd A. Herman, PhD, president and CEO mintmuseum.org

1

OUR TEAM EDITOR Michele Huggins

10

CREATIVE DIRECTION & GRAPHIC DESIGN Stephanie Lepore GRAPHIC DESIGNER David Lewandowski CONTRIBUTORS Hailey Black Annie Carlano Hillary Cooper

15

27

Jen Sudul Edwards, PhD Kitty Hall Chelsea Hidalgo Page Leggett

TABLE OF CONTENTS 5 | CHROMATIC EDIT

41 | STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Bright details for a lighter spring season.

Meet Fashion Fellow Bridget Kerr, a savvy researcher with an avowed love of crafting.

10 | ARTIST BEHIND THE ART

Diane Lowry Margaret Mauldin Kurma Murrain Clayton Sealey Ellen Show Joel Smeltzer Michael Solender Leslie Strauss

Charlotte artist Kirk Fanelly uses paper as paint for his works on view in Constellation CLT.

42 | AFFILIATES IN ACTION

Jonathan Stuhlman, PhD

A review of events and activities hosted by the Mint affiliate groups.

Valeria Vazquez

12 | UPCOMING EVENTS

43 | EVENTS AT THE MINT

Mark your calendar for not-to-miss Mint events.

Snapshots from recent events, exhibition openings, and more.

14 | NOTEWORTHY

46 | CROWN SOCIETY PATRONS

Notable mentions, awards, and recognition of Mint people, projects, and programs.

15 | 12 REASONS TO LOVE THE MINT RIGHT NOW

From dynamic programming to artist conversations and exhibitions, there’s a lot to love about the Mint.

2

Spring 2026

49 | CURATOR’S PICK

Jennifer Winford

ON THE COVER Jusepe de Ribera (Spanish, 1591–1652).

St. Thomas (detail), circa 1612, oil on canvas.

Florence, Fondazione di Studi di Storia dell’Arte Roberto Longhi.

Connect with the Mint @themintmuseum

FEATURES 21 | THE CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN SERIES RETURNS

The Mint welcomes four renowned designers whose work pushes the boundaries of contemporary practice.

22 | 13TH ANNUAL COVETED COUTURE GALA

A dazzling evening of art, fashion, and Italian splendor celebrating the opening of Caravaggio | Revolution.

23 | DARK MATTERS: CARAVAGGIO | REVOLUTION

Baroque masterpieces that reveal Caravaggio’s enduring impact take center stage in this landmark exhibition.

27 | FROM CONCEPT TO CREATION: DESIGNING DYNAMISM

An exploration of the masterful craftsmanship of Kuba textiles and their influence on modern design.

31 | RECENT ACQUISITIONS

Get a glimpse of what's new in Mint's ever-expanding collection.

35 | SHAKING THINGS UP WITH THE DA LOWCOUNTRY COASTA

Artist Corey Alston’s new work reshapes the Gullah tradition of sweetgrass basketry.

38 | FOCUSING ON PHOTOGRAPHY

The Mint Museum’s photography collection doubles thanks to a gift from Bank of America.

40 | HONORING LEGACIES OF LEADERSHIP AND VISION

Recognizing two Mint members for their steadfast support and leadership.

LEFT: Corey Alston (American (Gullah), 1982–).

Da Lowcountry Coasta (detail), 2025, bulrush, sweetgrass, palmetto, coiled. Museum Purchase: Windgate Fund. 2025.65

mintmuseum.org

3

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS Collidoscope: de la Torre Brothers Retro-Perspective in Charlotte is generously presented by Laura and Mike Grace. The exhibition is a nationally traveling exhibition organized by The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture of the Riverside Art Museum (The Cheech) and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino.

Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks is generously presented in Charlotte by PNC. Individual sponsorship is kindly provided by Kati and Chris Small, and Ann and Michael Tarwater. Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks is co-organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Bata Shoe Museum.

This exhibition is curated by Elizabeth Semmelhack, Director and Senior Curator, Bata Shoe Museum.

Caravaggio | Revolution: Baroque Masterpieces from the Roberto Longhi Foundation is generously presented by M.A. Rogers and Bank of America. Individual sponsorship support for this exhibition is kindly provided by Betsy and Alfred Brand; Jane and Hugh McColl, Pat Rodgers, and Leigh-ann and Martin Sprock; Beverly and Jim Hance, Marshelette and Milton Prime, and Rocky and Curtis Trenkelbach; Mary Lou and Jim Babb, Sarah and Tim Belk, Mary and Charles Bowman, and Jo Ann and Joddy Peer; Marty and Weston Andress, and Robin and Bill Branstrom. Organized by the Fondazione di Studi di Storia dell’Arte Roberto Longhi and Civita Mostre e Musei, in collaboration with The Mint Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg.

MISSION Welcoming all to be inspired and transformed through the power of art and creativity.

VISION The Mint Museum seeks to continuously enhance lives and create a more empathetic world by ensuring access and by engaging communities in a meaningful, lifelong relationship with art and design.

CORE VALUES Accountability, Collaboration, Diversity and Inclusivity,

The Mint Museum’s 2026 Coveted Couture Gala is generously presented by Bank of America with additional sponsorship support from Regions Bank and BlackArch.

Education and Intellectual Rigor, Innovation and Excellence, Community and Welcoming

Central Impact is generously sponsored by Converse.

The exhibition is presented by Deckaid in collaboration with Black Sheep Skate Shop.

Art of Devotion: The Santos de Palo Tradition of Puerto Rico is generously supported by the City of Charlotte and the North Carolina Arts Council. Individual sponsorship is kindly provided by Daniela and Hans Moll Toste.

The Mint Museum’s Party in the Park and Potters Market at the Mint are generously presented by Principal Foundation.

Support for Student Tours is provided by the Mint Museum Auxiliary and Young Affiliates of the Mint.

LAND AND LABOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The Mint Museum sits on colonized land traditionally home to the Catawba, Cheraw, Sugaree, Waxhaw, and all other Indigenous peoples who resided, met, and traded here. The Mint also

Renaissance, Romanticism, and Rebellion: European Art from the Smith-Naifeh Collection is generously presented by the Mint Museum Auxiliary with supporting sponsorship

by The Hartford and First Horizon Bank. Individual support is kindly provided by Laura and Mike Grace.

Free Wednesday Evenings are generously sponsored by Publix Super Market Charities and the Mint Museum Auxiliary.

4

Spring 2026

labor of enslaved peoples of African ancestry who helped build The Mint Museum on Randolph Road at various

The Grier Heights Program is financially supported by the Mint Museum Auxiliary and Arts and Science Council.

Designing Dynamism: Kuba Textiles from the DR Congo, The Wesley Mancini Collection is generously presented

by Wells Fargo. Individual sponsorship is kindly provided

by Hillary and Fairfax Cooper, and Lauren Harkey.

acknowledges the unpaid and hidden

The Mint Museum is supported, in part, by the City of Charlotte and the North Carolina Arts Council.

stages in the building’s history.

Chromatic Edit Bright details for a lighter spring season. store.mintmuseum.org

Adam Eugene Photo | Product selection by Valeria Vazquez

mintmuseum.org

5

Balloon Dog Candle (lime): $22.

Pop Shop Angel x Batman T-Shirt: $58. Splash! Clutch: $198. Happy Book: Notebook: $40. Prime: Art's Next Generation: $79. My Art Book of Friendship: $18.95. Life is Short Dutch Earrings: $65. Shell Vase (lime green): $48.

6

Spring 2026

Marimekko: The Art of Printmaking: $65. Grand Interiors: $105. Deep River Whitfield Lovell: $65. Mountain Snake Scarf: $68. Classic Cameo Empress Necklace: $178. Balloon Dog Candle (blue): $22. Claude Vase Bookend 6.75": $18. Jonathan Adler Versailles Memory Game: $29.99. Romare Bearden Glasses

by Vontelle "Black Manhattan": $199.

mintmuseum.org

7

Mint Museum Nerd Sweatshirt: $98.

The Fashion Show: The Stories, Invites and Art of 300 Landmark Shows: $50.

Elton John Icon: $75. Venus de Milo Vase Small (coral): $50. Balloon Dog Candle (pink): $22. Too Many Thoughts Magnetic List Pad Set of 2: $18. Silver Linings Outline Markers: $20.

8

Spring 2026

Basquiat Anthony Clark T-Shirt: $82.

Bell Flower Lariat on Twisted Metal Chain with Chunky Semi Precious Stone Drops: $265. Black in Fashion: $65. Drift: $89.95.

Indigenous Histories: $55. Handmade Wool Felt Ball Coaster Set: $32. Flocked Diana Bust Garnett: $105. Altered Bottle in Chinese Blue: $325. Balloon Dog Candle (orange): $22.

mintmuseum.org

9

ARTIST BEHIND THE ART

Preserving a moment in time KIRK FANELLY'S ART IS—SHALL WE SAY—TIME-SENSITIVE

BY PAGE LEGGETT

If you think all artists are free spirits who can’t be held to a schedule, you should meet Kirk Fanelly.

In some ways, the native Charlottean (and Providence High School alum) lives by the clock. That’s because his other business—besides being an artist—is timepieces.

He founded Clock Forward, a “platform to showcase innovative, well-designed clocks ... and to make artful timepieces from around the globe more accessible,” according to his website.

He’s married his clock business to his work as an artist.

His website refers to clocks as “table top time-related art.”

And on a recent business trip to Chicago to repair a regular client’s clock, he squeezed in a visit to what he called “the amazing Art Institute.” (Anyone who’s seen Ferris Bueller’s Day Off will recall that Chicago’s world-famous museum is home to George Seurat’s A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, plus other masterpieces.)

The business-savvy artist, whose work is being shown as part of the Mint’s Constellation CLT series opening March 13, speaks and writes like the intellectual he is.

He has an Ivy League education—from Brown University, although he also did a fellowship at Yale. And he was able to divide his time in college between Brown and the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design (Rhode Island School of Design is within a stone’s throw of Brown).

Mixing creativity and logic Fanelly didn’t grow up wanting to be an artist, although he said the crafts his mom liked to do “probably helped [him] become interested in painting and drawing at a 10

Spring 2026

young age.” He decided on art as a career when faced with a deadline—just before his sophomore year in college when he had to declare a major.

But even then, art wasn’t his sole career ambition.

“I say every artist either has another job, family money or a supportive spouse—at some point or throughout their career,” he says. “It surprises me when people don’t do the math on how much you have to sell every month, year after year. They want to buy into a fairytale.”

Unlike the stereotypical struggling actor who waits tables to support himself while auditioning, Fanelly’s other job isn’t something he does grudgingly so he can paint. He genuinely likes both jobs.

“I enjoy running my own business,” he says.

He makes art on a regular schedule but balances his artmaking with his clock business, saying he’s “happy to get a few solid hours a day in the studio.”

Having two careers suits Fanelly, although he says it would “be nice to be a little less busy.” Yet he also admits he doesn’t “vacation well or like time off.”

Patience and precision For the past 25 years, Fanelly’s artmaking process has started by digitally combining one of his photos with one of his drawings. “I use photos for forms,” he explains.

“The color is worked out in the sketches and while working on the piece.” Still, this digital preparation isn’t a blueprint; everything is subject to change.

Fanelly writes in his artist statement that his “work has shifted over the last several years. In earlier narrative paintings, I was interested in articulating the awkwardness and vulnerability of people in relation to our … architectural environments, suburban mores and myths, sexual dynamics …”

That shift was a conscious decision, although he adds a caveat: “There’s a consensus now that a lot of decisions are first worked out unconsciously, so who knows?”

His recent work is about “finding meaning in materials and chance encounters with the broader natural world rather than encounters with human absurdity (which appear in overabundance these days). This current approach is one that feels increasingly expansive and calming.”

About the materials he mentioned—he’s now using what we typically think of as a canvas as a medium. He’s cutting up paper and using it as he would paint!

It’s a laborious process. The paper must be tinted because Fanelly isn’t satisfied with the “limited palette” available commercially. He then cuts the paper with a scalpel before applying a protective coating and later, the final protective matte UV varnish.

He will refer to the digitally combined photo/illustration he began with but said that the placement of each little piece of paper isn’t predetermined.

“It’s definitely not the most efficient way to make art,” he admits. Even he looks at a finished piece and thinks: “I wouldn’t have the patience to make it!”

A guy who’s in the timekeeping business says he’s “only aware of how long things take when there is a deadline.”

“If you want to calculate an hourly wage, it would be depressing,” he says. He truly doesn’t know how long each piece takes, since they “can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a year.”

But who’s keeping track of time? Ironically, not the artist who also runs a clock shop.

Page Leggett is a Charlotte-based freelance writer.

Her stories have appeared in The Charlotte Observer, The Biscuit, and many other regional publications.

Learn more about Kirk Fanelly at kirkfanelly.art.

OPPOSITE: Kirk Fanelly (American, 1975–). My Dad with Two Pancakes (detail), 2000, inlaid cut paper, inkjet print on panel (paper tinted with acrylic paint). Courtesy of the artist. ABOVE: Kirk Fanelly (American, 1975–).

West Village Interior (detail), 2023–24, inlaid cut paper on 2 panels (paper tinted with arcrylic paint). Courtesy of the artist.

mintmuseum.org

11

UPCOMING EVENTS

SPRING 2026

Visitors at Mint Museum Randolph

Party in the Park at Mint Museum Randolph

MARCH

APRIL

13 FRIDAY Artist Talk with Kirk Fanelly Mint Museum Uptown 6:30 PM | Free with museum admission

9 THURSDAY Contemporary Architecture + Design Series: Kim Mupangilaï Presented by Wells Fargo Mint Museum Randolph 6 PM | Free

Hear from local artist Kirk Fanelly about his process and works included in the newest Constellation CLT installation. Cash bar opens at 6 PM, talk at 6:30 PM. 19 THURSDAY Contemporary Architecture + Design Series: Kyle Spence Presented by Wells Fargo Mint Museum Randolph 6 PM | Free Senior Curator of Craft, Design, and Fashion Annie Carlano is joined by UNC Charlotte professor and architect Kyle Spence who will discuss his participatory community design and socially responsive architecture practices.

22 SUNDAY Party in the Park Presented by Principal Foundation Mint Museum Randolph 1–5 PM | Free We kick off the spring season with free museum admission, live music, food trucks, cash bar, and a celebration of Weaving Joy, Woven Resistance by Katrina Sanchez. Mark the calendar for more Party in the Park events happening the third Sunday April through June.

12

Spring 2026

New York-based, Belgian-Congolese interior architect and designer Kim Mupangilaï will join Senior Curator of Craft, Design, and Fashion Annie Carlano to discuss how her roots influence her practice and sculptural furniture pieces.

11 SATURDAY Slow Art Day Mint Museum Uptown 1–4 PM | Free with museum admission Enjoy an afternoon of mindful, slow-looking art activities throughout the museum galleries as part of national Slow Art Day. 15 WEDNESDAY Let the Music Play: Steinway Residency Series Opening Night Presented by First Horizon Bank Mint Museum Uptown 6–6:45 PM | Free with museum admission In partnership with Steinway Piano Gallery, enjoy the sounds of a curated piano performance by a local professional pianist.

The series continues the third Wednesday of each month with galleries open until 9 PM.

Mint 2 Move at Mint Museum Uptown

17 FRIDAY Mint 2 Move Cultural Dance Night Mint Museum Uptown 7–11 PM | $15 members, $19 nonmembers Enjoy free dance lessons with Rumbao Latin Dance Company, DJ Carlos LeBron, live music, cultural vendors, live painters, and so much more. Cash bar. Galleries are open late until 9 PM. 25 SATURDAY Members-Only Preview of Caravaggio | Revolution Mint Museum Uptown 11 AM–6 PM | $10 members, $25 nonmembers Members can get a first glimpse of the exhibition Caravaggio | Revolution: Baroque Masterpieces from the Roberto Longhi Foundation before it opens to the public.

Coveted Couture Gala Presented by Bank of America Mint Museum Randolph 6:30 PM–midnight | Pricing varies Guests will enjoy an extraordinary evening celebrating the opening of Caravaggio | Revolution in an elegant setting inspired by the drama and grandeur of 17th-century Italy.

ONGOING Yoga at the Mint Mint Museum Uptown Tuesdays, 5:15–6:15 PM Yoga on the Lawn Mint Museum Randolph Saturdays, 10–11 AM Free for members using code MINT21; $15 for nonmembers Participate in a one-hour yoga class with Dancing Lotus Yoga + Arts. Classes are free for Mint members using promo code MINT21 and $15 for nonmembers.

Registration is required. Register online at dancinglotusnc.com.

NEW: Sound Bath Series Mint Museum Uptown First Tuesdays, 7–8:30 PM | Free Held on the first Tuesday each month, this restorative program incorporates elements of breathwork, guided meditation, gentle movement, and live instrumental and vocal sound to create a soothing environment.

Sound Bath Series at Mint Museum Uptown

26 SUNDAY Caravaggio | Revolution Opening Mint Museum Uptown 10 AM–6 PM | $10 members, $10 plus museum admission for nonmembers Caravaggio | Revolution opens to the public.

The exhibition includes the 17th-century Caravaggio painting Boy bitten by a lizard as well as other masterful Baroque works.

Caravaggio Scholar Talk by Professor Cristina Acidini Mint Museum Uptown 2–3:30 PM | Free with museum admission Professor Cristina Acidini from the Roberto Longhi Foundation presents on the origins and cultural significance of the extraordinary works in the exhibition Caravaggio | Revolution, including Caravaggio’s Boy bitten by a lizard.

MAY 2 SATURDAY Derby Days Mint Museum Randolph 3–7 PM | $45-$75 Hosted by Young Affiliates of the Mint, Derby Days returns with live entertainment, elevated cocktails, and a live viewing of

the Kentucky Derby, all in support of The Mint Museum’s mission of arts access and community engagement. Details at youngaffiliatesofthemint.org.

6 WEDNESDAY Wednesday Night Live: Sweetgrass and Gullah Heritage Mint Museum Uptown 5–9 PM; 7–8:30 PM talk | Free, cash bar Corey Alston, sweetgrass basket maker and creator of the Mint’s recent acquisition Da Lowcountry Coasta, is joined by renowned sweetgrass artists Mary Jackson and Stoney Jackson, to discuss the tradition of sweetgrass basketry and Gullah culture.

7 THURSDAY Contemporary Architecture + Design Series: Ini Archibong Presented by Wells Fargo Mint Museum Randolph 6 PM | Free Switzerland-based, American-Nigerian industrial designer Ini Archibong joins Senior Curator of Craft, Design, and Fashion Annie Carlano to discuss master craftsmanship as it relates to modern and ancient technology.

Drop-in Art Mint Museum Randolph Wednesdays, 5–8 PM | Free Drop by the Art Room to explore fiber art, drawing and painting, collage, plus rotating seasonal activities.

ArtBreak Mint Museum Uptown and Mint Museum Randolph Thursdays, noon–12:30 PM | Free Recharge midday visiting the museum galleries. Enjoy a guided tour on the third Thursday each month at Mint Museum Uptown and the fourth Thursday of each month at Mint Museum Randolph.

FREE ART KITS Visit Mint Museum Randolph the first Wednesday through Saturday of March, April, and May during museum hours, to pick up a fun all-ages project to create at home (while supplies last). Supported by the Mint Museum Auxiliary.

March 4–7, April 1–4, and May 6–9

Events are subject to change. Pricing excludes tax. For our full calendar and most up-to-date information, visit mintmuseum.org/events or call 704.337.2000. mintmuseum.org

13

Noteworthy AWARDS, ACCOLADES, AND NOTABLE MENTIONS "Spent a full day at the Mint. The Annie Leibovitz photo exhibition was fantastic! ... The QR code that acted as a companion to this exhibit was invaluable. One of the most unusual yet impressive exhibits was Collidoscope: de la Torre Brothers Retro-Perspective. It is amazing what a hodgepodge of objects can create, and the meaning behind these pieces is brilliant. The interactive element of this art proved to be most enjoyable. There is so much on display from furniture to paintings to sculptures. Allow at least three hours to visit this museum, and should you choose to spend more time, be sure to take a break at the culinary jewel that is Mariposa, located on the museum's main level.” —backpacker31 via Tripadvisor

Kurma Murrain, community relations coordinator, was selected by North Carolina Governor Josh Stein to serve on the Governor’s Advisory Council on Latino Affairs. The new Latino Council includes up to 30 members who are charged with exploring specific topics important to North Carolina’s Hispanic and Latino population. Murrain is serving on the Education and Skills Development Committee.

Kevin "Surf" Mitchell joins the Mint’s community relations team as the Grier Heights Youth Arts Program Community Coordinator. A Charlotte West End native, Mitchell brings deep experience in community engagement, youth programming, and creativity. Formerly Education Director at The Light Factory, he is also a highly regarded photographer recognized by Queen City Nerve, Axios, and others.

Surf Mitchell (right) with Ramona Holloway, community relations and civic engagement director.

Rooted in community. Alex Olivares has been selected to be a part of the inaugural National Arts Futures Fellow cohort by Creative West in partnership with South Arts. Alex joins an inspiring cohort of early- and mid-career arts leaders committed to building a more just, inclusive, and vibrant arts ecosystem through a six-month fellowship rooted in care, community, wellness, and belonging.

14

Spring 2026

Applause for Joel Smeltzer, head of school and gallery learning, who created a stunning series of textile illustrations for the exhibition catalogue "Designing Dynamism: Kuba Textiles from the DR Congo, The Wesley Mancini Collection."

Smeltzer collaborated closely with Annie Carlano, senior curator of Craft, Design, and Fashion, to bring the Kuba artistry to life on the catalogue pages by illustrating how fibers are woven together to create patterns on a cloth surface.

REASONS TO LOVE THE MINT RIGHT NOW

EVERYONE HAS AN ARTIST INSIDE THEM Through thoughtfully designed drawing activities embedded within exhibition spaces, the Mint's Learning and Engagement team invites visitors to look closely and connect what they see with the physical act of drawing. Recent examples of drawing activities include a drawing activity space in Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks where visitors were invited to design their own shoe, inspired by the transformative and innovative shoe designs in the exhibition spaces.

In Renaissance, Romanticism, and Rebellion: European Art from the Smith-Naifeh Collection, the team developed a drawing prompt that encouraged visitors to respond to

Anton Mercié’s bronze sculpture Gloria Victis. By drawing their interpretation of the winged figure—often understood as an allegory of hope or fame—visitors were invited to reflect on themes of loss, memory, and freedom.

Drawing offers a unique point of access to works of art and design. When visitors spend extended time observing an object, details, textures, and nuances begin to emerge.

Through the rhythm and focus of drawing, visitors can better sense an object’s complexity, movement, and meaning.

—Joel Smeltzer, head of school and gallery programs

mintmuseum.org

15

YOU CAN COLOR OUR COLLECTION Now anyone can be creative and interact with the Mint from the comfort of home. Inspired by the Mint's collections and exhibitions, illustrations created by Mint staff members Margaret Mauldin, assistant head of school and gallery programs; and Hailey Black, multimedia strategy manager, let all ages re-imagine the funky blown glass works of Collidoscope by the de la Torre brothers or the iconic portrait of our city’s namesake, Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

The full collection of coloring sheets can be found on the Mint's website under the educators page at mintmuseum.org/educators. Share your masterpiece by tagging @themintmuseum on social media. —Chelsea Hidalgo, digital marketing coordinator

WE BELIEVE CREATIVITY HAS NO LIMITS In 2025, museum educators found that presenting African art as inspiration for creativity led to endless media exploration in the Art Room. Youth and counselors participating in the summer Hands-On Art program discussed the concept of masquerade in the African Art galleries, then visited the Art Room to expand on the concept, pursuing their own unique interests and ideas.

Many started by using step-by-step drawing instructions to combine simple shapes and lines to create a mask. Others chose to draw from observation, investigating African masks on loan from the museum’s study collection. Artists then built upon their ideas by incorporating stamping, mixed 16

Spring 2026

media, clay, markers, or colored pencils. An especially clever spin was “Spider-clops,” a colorful four-eyed Spidermaninspired mask featuring African print fabric scraps.

Throughout the fall, the African collection and study objects continued to provide a ground spring of inspiration for visitors to the Art Room, with many adults and children taking a deeper dive into the theme utilizing watercolor and tempera paints. As lifelong learners themselves, museum educators find endless lesson plan inspiration in the works from the museum permanent collection. —Leslie Strauss, head of family and studio programs

OUR GALLERIES ARE ALIVE WITH STORYTELLING Visitors to the Romare Bearden Gallery at Mint Museum Uptown will find a wild new theme on view. Taking its inspiration from Romare Bearden’s collage Evening of the Grey Cat (1982), the recently installed A Mint Menagerie explores how artists across eras and cultures depict animals. Spanning the museum's broad collection, the installation traces a visual lineage from ancient works of Central and South America to contemporary pieces.

The installation includes works that reveal the varied dynamics of human–animal relationships. Artist Clare Leighton’s prints capture moments where animals appear as essential sources of nourishment, elements of labor, or simply as fellow inhabitants of the natural world. Humor

and whimsy also appear throughout, including Jon Corbino’s lively bull-at-the-fair painting and a charming North Carolina pottery bear caught mid–honey snack.

Animal imagery also enlivens functional objects, from Tonalá ceramics and rabbit-ringed tableware to a bold marlin-shaped chest of drawers.

Contemporary interpretations expand the theme further, most notably Anna Skibska’s gleaming glass Smok (Dragon) that floats above the gallery as an abstracted creature of light and form. Together, the works in A Mint Menagerie demonstrate how animals continue to inspire storytelling, symbolism, and creativity. —Clayton Sealey, senior director of marketing and communications

OUR HISTORY IS INTERTWINED WITH OUR COMMUNITY Between 1995 and 2009, the Mint partnered with the Latin American Coalition and the Latin American Women’s Association (now known as Latin Americans Working for Achievement) to sponsor Charlotte’s Latin American Festival.

Mint Museum Randolph hosted the festival until it outgrew the museum’s capacity (20,000 people!) and moved to Symphony Park in 2008. Strong relationships with the Latin American community were forged by the Mint’s former Librarian Sara Hevia Wolf, and former Director of Learning and Engagement Cheryl Palmer.

Shining a light on these relationships and the Mint’s contribution to the festival is a new installation titled Llueva o No Llueva: The Latin American Festival at The Mint Museum. Curated by The Mint Museum archives team, the installation is on view May 16 through January 10 at Mint Museum Randolph. —Ellen Show, director of library and archives

mintmuseum.org

17

THIS IS WHERE DREAMS TAKE SHAPE The Staff Art Exhibition has become a beloved Mint tradition, showcasing works by staff members from across the museum. Each year, an open-ended theme invites participants to explore their creativity—whether by creating something entirely new or revisiting a previous work that reflects their artistic point of view.

The fall 2025 exhibition, Dreams, offered “snapshots of the subconscious, stitching together hopes and fears, from moments remembered and futures imagined.” The result was a visually compelling installation that filled the STAR Gallery with imagination and heart.

Talent and creativity graced the walls in a wide range of mediums, reflecting the diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, careers, and cultures represented among Mint staff. Works ranged from an immersive auditory sensory music experience to poetry-printed fabrics layered with thread and text, alongside digital collages, paintings, and pottery. Together, these works blended seamlessly to celebrate the creativity and passion that drive The Mint Museum every day. —CH

WE BELIEVE CAREERS IN THE ARTS BEGIN WITH POSSIBILITY In early February, The Mint Museum hosted its first-ever Careers in the Arts Fair intended to introduce high school and college students to a wide range of thriving creative professions in Charlotte, as well as expand what students may consider a career in the arts. Arts organizations, creative nonprofits, and working professionals from across the region were invited to present information, speak in a moderated panel discussion, and participate in careerreadiness sessions. The event served to cut through some of the career fog and highlight opportunities for students in their communities, gifting them a little more confidence and direction as they embark on their career journeys. —Jordan Campbell, guest services and volunteer coordinator 18

Spring 2026

COLLABORATION SPARKS CREATIVITY The Grier Heights Youth Arts Program at The Mint Museum brought creativity, community, and skate culture together through a powerful hands-on collaboration. Partnering with Josh Frazier of Black Sheep Skate Shop, local youth were given the opportunity to design and create their own custom skateboard decks—made possible through deck donations from Black Sheep Skate Shop.

Additional skateboard hardware was generously contributed by affiliates and friends of the Central Impact Project, including Daniel Devlin of Stardust Skate Shop, further reinforcing the strength of Charlotte’s skate community.

Artist and Charlotte skate deck creator Phoebe Teeters helped lead the youth through the creative process, guiding them in transforming blank decks into vibrant, personal works of art. Beyond instruction, she also played a key role in connecting the program with local skate shops, emphasizing collaboration and mentorship.

The completed decks were proudly displayed during the Grier Heights Christmas Party at The Mint Museum, where they served as both an exhibition of youth creativity and a celebration of community support. At the end of the evening, each deck was gifted to its young artist—turning art into something tangible, functional, and deeply personal. This project highlights what’s possible when local artists, businesses, and youth come together with shared purpose. —Surf Mitchell, Grier Heights Youth Arts Program community coordinator

VOLUNTEERING CAN SHAPE A FUTURE The Mint Museum’s volunteer program is all about building relationships, growing careers, and creating real connections. Volunteers contribute across various museum departments including the library and archives, which hosts 10 volunteers a year. Many past library and archives volunteers have been students that have gone on to pursue careers in nursing, law, studio art, and of course libraries and archival studies. One former volunteer and recent UNC Charlotte graduate, Jocelynn Coleman (pictured left), now studies library science at the University of Maryland and just began an internship with the National Museum of Women in the Arts' library. She says of her experience "I had so much fun volunteering at the Mint! Gaining experience in the library and archives inspired me to enroll in a Master of Library and Information Science program and begin to pursue a career in archives and special collections." To learn more about volunteer or internship opportunities, please visit the careers page of our website at mintmuseum.org/careers. —Jennifer Winford, librarian

mintmuseum.org

19

WE NOW OFFER A MINDFUL AUDIO TOUR Research shows that mindfully engaging with art can help lower blood pressure, calm the nervous system, reduce stress, and enhance feelings of well-being. Mindfulness also promotes an open, non-judgmental approach to viewing art, fostering a deeper appreciation and connection with each piece. The Mint's new Mindful Audio Tour encourages visitors to slow down and tune into how the art stirs emotions, curiosity, and personal reflections.

After listening to the first track, “Mindful Arriving,” you can choose from a variety of other tracks and listen in any order.

Feel free to pause and return to the audio guide whenever

you like, and you don’t have to complete all the tracks in one visit. The self-guided tour is completely free and available on the Mint’s website and through the Bloomberg Connects app (and the QR code below).

Be sure to check our events calendar for in-person mindfulness programs, developed in collaboration with Joel Smeltzer, head of school and gallery programs, including Meditation at the Mint, Mindful Looking, and Mindful Sketching. —Diane Lowry, mindfulness program facilitator

WE ARE WHERE ART, FASHION, AND STORYTELLING MEET Mint to Be: The Feminine Body as Costume Art celebrates femininity through the creative vision of local artists in a month-long exhibition, runway competition, and fashion fair experience opening May 1 in the MINT5pace at Mint Museum Uptown. Inspired by the Met Gala’s 2026 celebration of Costume Art, the exhibition features curated works across multiple mediums, paired with one to two fashion mannequins to bring each artistic interpretation to life. Presented

by Perrine “Professor P” DeShield-Jenkins (pictured left), creator of the 2025 sold-out event Superfine: Exploring Black Dandyism, Mint to Be honors femininity in all its forms—where tenderness becomes strength and selfadornment becomes storytelling. More details @perrinedeshield. —Michele Huggins, associate director of marketing and communications

MUSIC ENHANCES THE MUSEUM EXPERIENCE Working with the Steinway Piano Gallery, the Mint is bringing the thrill of piano music to Mint Museum Uptown. Every third Wednesday of the month, beginning April 15, a rotating lineup of talented local and regional pianists will fill the museum space with piano performances that elevate the visitor experience and celebrate Charlotte’s vibrant music community. Performances will take place 6–6:45 PM and as part of Free Wednesday Nights, giving visitors time to enjoy the music, explore the galleries, and still have time to enjoy dinner at Mariposa at the Mint! —CS

20

Spring 2026

ADVERTORIAL

KYLE SPENCE

Contemporary Architecture + Design Series The Mint Museum is pleased to present the return of the Contemporary Architecture + Design (CAD) Series, featuring engaging talks from internationally recognized designers at the forefront of contemporary practice. First launched in 2012, the series offers fresh insights into today’s most innovative architecture and design.

The 2026 CAD Series, presented by Wells Fargo, features an inspiring group of internationally recognized designers whose work spans the globe and pushes the boundaries of contemporary practice. Through engaging talks and conversations, these visionaries will share stories, ideas, and processes behind their most compelling work.

Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Designing Dynamism: Kuba Textiles from the DR Congo, The Wesley Mancini Collection, the series creates a dynamic dialogue between design disciplines. Both the CAD Series and exhibition are generously presented by Wells Fargo.

Each program includes wine and beer from 5:30–6 PM, followed by the talk, a post-program reception, and the opportunity to tour the exhibition.

All talks are free and take place in the Van Every Auditorium at Mint Museum Randolph, 2730 Randolph Road, Charlotte.

March 19, 6 PM Mint Museum Randolph Kyle Spence is founding principal of BAKlab, a concept-driven architectural design practice based in New York City.

An assistant professor of architecture at UNC Charlotte and a 2025 Gambrell Faculty Fellow, his interdisciplinary practice explores the “Place-Moment” connection, bridging jazz, improvisation, archaeoastronomy, and participatory community design to create socially responsive architecture.

KIM MUPANGILAÏ April 9, 6 PM Mint Museum Randolph Belgian-Congolese interior architect and designer Kim Mupangilaï creates sculptural furniture pieces and is a professor at Parsons School of Design in New York City. Her practice explores cross-cultural identity, heritage, and the social and political layers embedded in art history and design. Her work has been shown internationally and is part of major institutional collections, including the Vitra Design Museum, the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Denver Art Museum.

INI ARCHIBONG May 7, 6 PM Mint Museum Randolph Ini Archibong is an industrial designer, creative director, artist, and musician whose work is driven by a deep fascination with master craftsmanship and its close relationship to technology—both modern and ancient. A Nigerian American based in Switzerland, Archibong’s designs navigate the line between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation.

dach&zephir July 9, 6 PM Mint Museum Randolph

Designing Dynamism: Kuba Textiles from the DR Congo, The Wesley Mancini Collection and the CAD Series is generously presented by Wells Fargo. The Mint Museum is supported, in part, by the City of Charlotte and the North Carolina Arts Council.

Florian Dach and Dimitri Zephir graduated from the National School of Decorative Arts in Paris and founded the creative studio dach&zephir. Conceived as an open and experimental creative space, the studio brings together their shared experiences rooted between Paris and Guadeloupe, as they explore questions of history, culture, and identity.

mintmuseum.org

21

WHERE BAROQUE BRILLIANCE MEETS BLACK-TIE GLAMOUR AN EVENING OF ART, FASHION, AND ITALIAN SPLENDOR AT THE 13TH ANNUAL COVETED COUTURE GALA

BY HILLARY COOPER

On Saturday, April 25, 2026, the lawn of the Mint Museum Randolph will be transformed into a dramatic, luminous, and unforgettable scene for The Mint Museum’s 13th annual Coveted Couture Gala and the opening celebration for Caravaggio | Revolution: Baroque Masterpieces from the Roberto Longhi Foundation. The extraordinary evening will fuse high art, haute style, and philanthropic purpose.

Anchored by Caravaggio’s Boy bitten by a lizard from the Roberto Longhi Foundation, alongside more than 30 works by other Baroque artists inspired by the Caravaggio style, the exhibition offers an intimate and revelatory look at the renowned artist’s early genius and enduring influence.

Caravaggio’s fearless naturalism, cinematic lighting, and emotionally charged realism not only transformed artistic conventions of the 17th century but laid the groundwork for visual storytelling across centuries. Caravaggio | Revolution draws direct connections between Caravaggio’s radical style and the visual language of modern film, photography, and music videos. From Martin Scorsese to R.E.M., Caravaggio’s influence continues to shape how we see the world today.

Fittingly, the opening celebration will mirror that same spirit of bold beauty and immersive drama. The Coveted Couture Gala, The Mint Museum’s largest annual fundraiser, brings together the city’s most devoted supporters—major donors, corporate and civic leaders, artists, and cultural champions— for an evening that is as meaningful as it is magnificent.

Proceeds support the Mint Annual Fund, fueling exhibitions, educational programs, community outreach, and the preservation of the museum’s permanent collection.

conversation will carry the celebration through midnight, creating a night to remember in honor of the arts and the Mint’s vital role in the community.

This special evening is generously presented by Bank of America with additional sponsorship support from Regions Bank and BlackArch. We are also proud to share that M.A. Rogers and Bank of America are the presenting sponsors of the Caravaggio | Revolution exhibition. The fabulous Mary Lou Babb, Beverly Hance, Jo Ann Peer, and Pat Rodgers are the gala co-chairs this year. All four of these stalwart Mint supporters have served as past Mint Museum Board of Trustees Chairs and leaders for decades within the Crown Society, the museum’s annual leadership giving circle. We are thrilled to have them at the helm and know they will plan a Bellissima Serata and amazing experience for all guests.

Guests will arrive to an elegant black-tie affair set against the graceful backdrop of Mint Museum Randolph. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served on the terrace, where the air will buzz with anticipation and Italian splendor. Following this elegant start, guests will be ushered into a stunning tent on the lawn for a beautifully curated, seated Italian dinner surrounded by lush florals and magical lighting.

Hillary Cooper is chief advancement officer at The Mint Museum.

The evening will continue with a brief but spirited live auction and paddle raise, followed by dancing under the stars to the high-energy sounds of The Emerald Empire Band. Late-night bites, flowing cocktails, and joyful

ABOVE (from left): Marshelette Prime, Beth Quartapella, Abbie and Will Cooper, Milton Prime, Drew Quartapella, and Shelly Schutt.

22

Spring 2026

For more information, please contact Lauren Hartnagel at 704.337.2112.

DARK MATTERS: CARAVAGGIO’S LIGHT STILL BURNS

CARAVAGGIO | REVOLUTION ILLUMINATES HOW THE USE OF ONE ARTIST’S PIERCING LIGHT AND UNCONVENTIONAL LIFE INFLUENCED ART FOR CENTURIES TO FOLLOW

BY MICHAEL J. SOLENDER

In fall 2022, while The Mint Museum president and CEO Todd Herman, PhD, was leading the members of the Mint’s Crown Society on a tour of the Venice Biennale and northern Italy’s artistic treasures, an unexpected opportunity arose.

The centerpiece of the show at the Mint would be a widely acclaimed Caravaggio, Boy bitten by a lizard (circa 1597), a striking and controversial portrait embodying the signature hallmarks of the artist’s transformational style.

It was during a rare free morning on the trip when Herman met with representatives of the Fondazione Roberto Longhi about staging an exhibition showcasing more than three dozen 16th and 17th century Baroque masterworks from their collection at the Mint.

Such an undertaking was met with careful pause and reflection. Museum attendance across the globe was down significantly due to the Covid pandemic. A Caravaggio featured exhibit would require considerable resources, yet, Herman was intrigued, and undeterred, because he saw a powerful through-line and sway from Caravaggio’s revolutionary style to artists across centuries, from Rembrandt and Matthias Stom to contemporary filmmakers Martin Scorsese, Isaac Julien and music videos from R.E.M. to Johnny Cash.

Longhi, the late Italian art historian, scholar and curator was instrumental in shaping the contemporary understanding of early Renaissance and Baroque painting. His analysis and commentary are credited with elevating the works of Baroque masters, especially Caravaggio. Longhi’s impressive art collection, built over his lifetime, form the core holdings of the Fondazione Roberto Longhi in Florence.

REVERSE: Michelangelo Merisi, known as Caravaggio (Italian, 1571–1610).

Boy bitten by a lizard (detail), circa 1597, oil on canvas. Florence, Fondazione di Studi di Storia dell’Arte Roberto Longhi. ABOVE: Valentin de Boulogne, known as Le Valentin (French, 1591–1632). Denial of St. Peter (detail), 1615–17, oil on canvas. Florence, Fondazione di Studi di Storia dell’Arte Roberto Longhi.

24

Spring 2026

Caravaggio’s dramatic chiaroscuro and tight compositions of raw, street-worn models all feel strikingly modern and speak directly to today’s audiences. Layered atop this visual urgency is the extraordinary drama of Caravaggio’s own life—his volatile temper, notorious street fights, fluid sexuality, and even a murder charge. For Herman, the combination of groundbreaking artistic influence and

a life story that still crackles with relevance made the opportunity to bring the exhibition to the Mint simply too compelling to ignore.

“I thought with Caravaggio we'd have very contemporary, thought-provoking connections surrounding this work.

We’d show how there is so much beyond what people think of when they think of Caravaggio,” says Herman.

Herman noted LGBTQ+ underpinnings in Caravaggio’s work and personal life, thoughts surrounding his intense realism, his interpretation of mythic and biblical themes, and controversial use of his street people (such as beggars and prostitutes) as models, were areas ripe for exploration. Even his legendary bad behavior all contributed to a discussion of how his work and influence have extended for centuries.

These elements are what make the exhibition fascinating, and what Herman hopes will resonate with audiences. “Does time, history, and context give us the ability to give grace where we wouldn't necessarily today? These are questions and discussions museums should encourage,” he says.

Cinematic immediacy Caravaggio, born Michelangelo Merisi in 1571 near Milan, trained in Lombardy before moving to Rome in his early 20s, painting still lifes and portrait heads. As he matured, his style evolved into a cinematic immediacy and intense realism with scenes often framed like a live tableau that pulled viewers straight into the action. His use of bold contrasts of light and shadow, frequently spotlighted figures with a single raking light to heighten drama.

Patronized by Cardinal Francesco Maria del Monte for nearly five years, Caravaggio produced key works including The Musicians (circa 1595–96), Bacchus (circa 1596), and the Head of Medusa (1597), a striking ceremonial shield likely for the Medici.

His realistic and raw interpretations of biblical and mythical allegory choosing everyday street people— unwashed ruffians and even himself—as models led to consternation and controversy. The critiques only seemed to embolden Caravaggio and add to his legacy.

Caravaggio’s turbulent life—fights, arrests, and exile across Naples, Malta, and Sicily—didn’t stop him from creating gripping paintings exploring spiritual tension and raw human emotion. He died at 38, his artistic stature, cultural impact and influence only growing over time.

Caravaggisti Nearly 35 works are on view in the exhibition, all hailing from the Roberto Longhi Foundation collection, including many by the Caravaggisti—artists who followed Caravaggio and echoed key elements of his style.

One striking example is The Annunciation of Samson’s Birth (circa 1630–32) by Dutch master Matthias Stom. A secondgeneration Utrecht Caravaggisti, Stom was taken with the ABOVE (from left): Matthias Stom or Stomer (Dutch, possibly Flemish, circa 1600–after 1650). Annunciation of Samson’s birth (detail), circa 1630–32, oil on canvas. Florence, Fondazione di Studi diStoria dell’Arte Roberto Longhi; Jusepe de Ribera (Spanish, 1591–1652). St. Thomas (detail), circa 1612, oil on canvas. Florence, Fondazione di Studi di Storia dell’Arte Roberto Longhi.

mintmuseum.org

25

Igniting a revolutionary spark The exhibition’s subtitle, Revolution, is no accident. It opens the door to everything visitors are about to encounter.

“Revolution is not just the revolution of Caravaggio style,” explains Herman. “And not just the revolution of Roberto Longhi opening the doors to Italian Baroque art. But also, the revolution of Caravaggio’s creation of what some call modern day cinematography. To inspire videographers and photographers and filmmakers, is yet one more revolution that happens that Caravaggio helps to instigate.”

Museum goers visiting Caravaggio | Revolution will find clips, photos, and insights from artists like Scorsese, Julien, LaChapelle, and Hunter, plus music-videos from R.E.M. and Johnny Cash, juxtaposed against work by Baroque masters that lay bare how he still drives the way visual stories are told today. style of Dutch painters who traveled to Rome in the early 1600s and absorbed Caravaggio’s bold, dramatic approach.

This painting shows an angel appearing to Samson’s parents, illuminated by a single candle that heightens the contrast of light and shadow.

Even with Caravaggio’s brief life and lack of a workshop, his influence spread widely. Yet the classical tradition didn’t fade—artists working in a Raphael-inspired, polished style remained active well into the 17th century.

As the church moved away from the ascetic teachings of Carlo Borromeo and Philipo Neri (both canonized), so the taste for Caravaggio’s reverence of the nobility of the poor in his paintings diminished.

“It is important people don’t leave thinking Caravaggio single-handedly redirected every Dutch, Italian, or French painter,” Herman says. “His impact was huge, but it existed alongside a strong and enduring classical current.”

Anchoring the exhibit is Caravaggio’s masterpiece, Boy bitten by a lizard. One of two nearly identical paintings, (the other is held by the National Gallery in London), the piece embodies essential Caravaggio elements and has led to controversial and contrasting analysis for centuries.

The beauty of the young bare shouldered boy, flower in his ear, for many displays homoerotic undertones. The lizard, barely seen at the bottom of the frame hiding amongst succulent fruit, is biting the boy’s middle finger. An allegory about the evil and pain of life’s excess such as illicit sex and overindulgence or a study in emotion and intensity? The painting lets the viewer decide.

ABOVE: Angelo Caroselli (Italian, 1585–1652). Allegory of Vanity (detail), circa 1620, oil on panel. Florence, Fondazione di Studi di Storia dell’Arte Roberto Longhi.

26

Spring 2026

“It's not just the lighting, it's the atmosphere,” Herman says.

“There's this sort of mystery that's going on around the action. You can see the action, the action is highlighted, but there's just this kind of pervasive mystery.”

For Herman, the exhibition is one that challenges the viewer on many levels. “The whole aspect of how we look at artist biography and context shape our perspective,” he says. “This exhibition nudges us to pause and ask: How should we interpret this now and why did people see it differently then?”

Caravaggio | Revolution: Baroque Masterpieces from the Roberto is generously presented by M.A. Rogers and Bank of America. Individual sponsorship support for this exhibition is kindly provided by Betsy and Alfred Brand; Jane and Hugh McColl, Pat Rodgers, and Leigh-ann and Martin Sprock; Beverly and Jim Hance, Marshelette and Milton Prime, and Rocky and Curtis Trenkelbach; Mary Lou and Jim Babb, Sarah and Tim Belk, Mary and Charles Bowman, and Jo Ann and Joddy Peer; Marty and Weston Andress, and Robin and Bill Branstrom.

Caravaggio | Revolution is organized by the Fondazione di Studi di Storia dell’Arte Roberto Longhi and Civita Mostre e Musei, in collaboration with The Mint Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg.

Michael J. Solender is a features writer who lives and works in his adopted home-town of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Caravaggio | Revolution is on view April 26–October 25 at Mint Museum Uptown. Tickets are $10 in addition to museum admission, $10 for members, and free for students in grades K-12.

FROM CONCEPT TO CREATION: DESIGNING DYNAMISM

BY ANNIE CARLANO

Designing Dynamism: Kuba Textiles from the DR Congo, The Wesley Mancini Collection invites visitors into a world where cloth is far more than fabric. At first glance, they look impossibly modern—bold grids, restless lines, patterns that seem to pulse and shift. But these works are not contemporary abstractions. They are Kuba prestige cloths, made in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, some more than a century ago.

systems, social stability, and a thriving economy rooted in agriculture, iron production, ivory, and rubber. For centuries, the Kuba resisted outside control. Eventually, however, the kingdom was absorbed into King Leopold II of Belgium’s Congo Free State, where forced labor and brutal exploitation left deep scars that have lasting effects in the modern society.

About the Kuba people

Even as colonial violence disrupted Kuba life, Kuba textiles began circulating far from their place of origin. By the late 19th century, they appeared in European exhibitions of African art. Between 1890 and 1910, African American missionary William Sheppard—who lived among and befriended the Kuba—assembled a remarkable collection. As textiles were sold in European capitals, avant-garde artists and writers were captivated by their radical visual language, finding inspiration that would help reshape modern design.

The Kuba kingdom emerged in the 17th century in southcentral Africa, flourishing in a landscape of fertile forests and rivers. It was known for its sophisticated political

All of the textiles in Designing Dynamism come from the personal collection of Wesley Mancini, a Charlotte-based textile designer, LGBTQ+ activist, and longtime supporter of

These textiles were symbols of power and intellect, gifts for kings, currency, and essential objects in funerary rites.

Created by the Shoowa subgroup of the Kuba people, they are celebrated for their masterful geometry and improvisational rhythms—so complex and syncopated that scholars have likened them to jazz, with its call-andresponse energy and constant variation.

28

Spring 2026

The Mint Museum. Mancini was drawn to the Kuba cloths not only for their beauty, but for their unique aesthetic. His generous gift brings these extraordinary works into public view where their influence can be fully appreciated.

I am drawn to the overall refined aesthetic of Kuba cloths. I respect and see the beauty in each piece. In my world, it’s all about fabric and there is no more perfect cloth than the Kuba on many levels.

—Wesley Mancini

Each prestige cloth in the exhibition was made using the same materials and techniques, raffia fiber, weaving, and embroidery. The individual makers’ names and intentions, however, are unknown to us today. Rather than diminishing their impact, this anonymity emphasizes the collective mastery and shared visual language of Kuba culture—designs refined, challenged, and reimagined across generations.

About the exhibition design The exhibition itself is designed as an immersive journey, created by Stephen Burks Man Made, a progressive design studio known for bridging handmade traditions and contemporary practice. Organized into three interconnected sections—Past, Present, and Future—the installation offers multiple entry points into the Kuba universe, where patterns extend beyond textiles into architecture, household objects, mats, carved boxes, and even body scarification.

In Past, visitors encounter raffia itself—the living material at the heart of Kuba artistic expression—and a prestige cloth that demonstrates its transformation. An oral history of the kingdom’s founding reveals how deeply textiles are woven into Kuba identity. According to tradition, the first king, Shyaam aMbul aNgoong, traveled across Central Africa gathering knowledge of weaving, embroidery, and aristocratic dress. So closely did he identify with textiles that he incorporated the word for raffia palm, shyaam, into his royal title. Under his rule, wealth and stability fueled an extraordinary flowering of art, architecture, and textile production.

In Present, the story expands. Alongside prestige squares, visitors will see women’s overskirts made by the Bushong, beaded belts, and a carved camwood box on loan from local collector Michael Gallis. This section also traces the influence of Kuba textiles on modern design, including a

Democratic Republic of Congo Kuba Kingdom (highlighted)

TOP RIGHT: Stephen Burks and Malika Leiper of Stephen Burks Man Made meeting with a contemporary Kuba artisan carrying forward the tradition as seen in the documentary film "In Search of Kuba" that will be on view in the exhibition.

mintmuseum.org

29

striking comparison between a Shoowa cloth and a French furnishing fabric from the 1930s—evidence of just how directly Kuba aesthetics influenced European modernism.

today. The film highlights the Kilubukila workshop and its vital role in preserving and sustaining these practices for future generations.

In Future, tradition meets continuity. A short documentary film, "In Search of Kuba," by Stephen Burks Man Made, takes viewers to Kinshasa, where contemporary embroiderers speak movingly about the cultural meaning of Kuba textiles

And there are surprises—unexpected design moments that reward curiosity and encourage visitors to linger. Some things, after all, are best discovered in person. Designing Dynamism is the result of five years of collaboration, from conservation specialists who prepared the textiles, to The Mint Museum staff who shaped the exhibition experience.

An accompanying catalogue, published by Giles Ltd., extends the conversation with a lead essay by Kuba textile scholar Vanessa Drake Moraga and contributions by designers Stephen Burks and Malika Leiper.

This exhibition is not only about cloth. It is about ingenuity, resilience, and the enduring power of Kuba design to move across time and place.

Annie Carlano is senior curator of Craft, Design, and Fashion at The Mint Museum.

IMAGES: Unidentified Kuba weavers and embroiderers. Prestige Cloth (detail), raffia. The Wesley Mancini Textile Collection. 2020.24.21; 2020.24.24; and 2020.24.40; ABOVE: Kuba People (Bushong Group).

Woman’s Dance Overskirt (detail), raffia. The Wesley Mancini Textile Collection. 2020.24.49

30

Spring 2026

RECENT ACQUISITIONS SEE WHAT’S NEW IN THE MINT’S COLLECTION

BY JEN SUDUL EDWARDS, PHD

The Mint Museum’s collection spans centuries and disciplines: from craft, design, fashion, African art, photography, decorative arts, contemporary, and American art. And each year, the collection continues to grow through the generosity of donors, grants, and gifts, guided by Mint curators who seek out compelling works from around the world.

In Recent Acquisitions, on view March 14 through July 19, 2026 at Mint Museum Uptown, the museum presents works of art acquired over the past 12 months. In total, more than 50 works will be included in the exhibition, including 20 prints

by Romare Bearden, a painting by Zoltan Sepeshy, and a mixed media work by John Acorn. The five selections highlighted here offer a glimpse into the breadth of the exhibition, showcasing the diversity of media, eras, and artistic voices that define the Mint’s evolving collection.

Le Calle, La Calle Vieja

by Judy Pfaff A trailblazer since the 1970s, Judy Pfaff is renowned for choreographing relationships between unlikely materials— where the industrial meets the natural. Created in 1990, Le Calle, La Calle Vieja took shape in Pfaff’s expansive ground-floor Brooklyn studio, a space that doubled as both workshop and neighborhood crossroads. As she gathered found objects from the surrounding streets, Pfaff formed friendships with local schoolchildren who joined her scavenging process as informal collaborators. Her titles from this time are in Spanish, in honor of the Hispanic heritage of her neighborhood.

Whether entwining across a wall, cascading from the ceiling, or enveloping an entire room, Pfaff’s exuberant assemblages blur boundaries between sculpture, installation, and environment—reminding us that beauty often emerges from the most unexpected places. Long time Mint supporters Leigh-ann and Martin Sprock gave the initial support so that

the Mint was able to hold the work at the Independent Art Fair in New York City while raising the rest of the funds.

Charlotte Debutante Club came in next, adding to the 70plus works the CDC helped the Mint acquire over their 63year affiliation with the museum. The remaining funds were supplied by the Katherine McKay Belk Charitable Fund, a bequest that continues the Kat Belk’s legacy of building the Mint’s collection of women and artists of color.

#250 muddy creek

by Ena Swansea Originally from Charlotte and now based in New York City, Ena Swansea builds her paintings through an intricate layering of materials—acrylic, oil paint, oil stick, pastel, and crayon—creating landscapes and cityscapes that feel at once observed and remembered. Snow appears often in these ABOVE: Judy Pfaff (American, 1980–). La Calle, La Calle Vieja, 1990, enamel paint on plywood and steel, found objects. Courtesy the artist and Cristin Tierney Gallery. Photography courtesy Peter Mauney.

mintmuseum.org

31

works, muting color and softening edges, transforming urban spaces into sites of quiet suspension. Swansea, who began her career in film, approaches painting with a cinematic sensibility: each canvas reads like a film still, a single frame charged with narrative momentum.

In recent years, Swansea has returned to North Carolina, turning her attention to the Southern landscape. #250 muddy creek emerged from a series initiated after a visit to Occoneechee Speedway, the last remaining dirt track from NASCAR’s inaugural 1949 season. There, she encountered a place slowly being overtaken by water, soil, and vegetation, as nature reclaims the racetrack and its abandoned stands.

The quiet, persistent encroachment mirrors the role of snow in Swansea’s urban scenes, where natural forces subtly rewrite human-made environments, revealing beauty in moments of transition, erosion, and renewal.

A Century of Hair

by Anne Lemanski

are then duplicated into kaleidoscopic repeat patterns that become a “skin,” stretched taut and meticulously sewn over metal armatures that Lemanski bends by hand into precise, often uncanny shapes.

In A Century of Hair, Lemanski turns her attention to the shifting expectations placed on women throughout the 20th century, using popular hairstyles as both subject and structure.

Each decade is memorialized through era-specific materials and visual languages pulled from popular culture, fashion, material culture, and craft traditions. The resulting work is 10 individual works that function as a meditation on constraint and resilience—on the social pressures women faced and the ingenuity with which they navigated them. While Lemanski’s practice has long examined the human and scientific impact on the natural world, A Century of Hair marks her first major work to explicitly center women’s history, expanding her inquiry into the cultural forces that shape identity and embodiment. In honor of that theme, Mint supporters Ann D. Cousins, Laura Grace, Olga Faison, Lucy and Hooper Hardison, Julie Eiselt, and Gina Phillips came together to contribute the funds to the work, allowing the Mint to acquire A Century of Hair in recognition of the women who shaped their lives—mothers, grandmothers, daughters, and sisters.

Raised in Michigan and long settled in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, Anne Lemanski constructs sculptural forms that quite literally wear their stories on their surface. She begins by digitally scanning collages assembled from cut-out imagery drawn from mid-20th-century reference books or photographs of casually discarded everyday objects. These source materials

So Chuy by Einar and Jamex de la Torre

ABOVE (from left): Ena Swansea (American, 1966–). #250 muddy creek (detail), 2020–24, oil and acrylic on linen. Museum purchase: Funds provided

by The Katherine McKay Belk Charitable Fund. 2025.60; Anne Lemanski (American, 1969–). A Century of Hair, 2005-07, mixed media. Museum purchase with funds provided by Ann D. Cousins; Laura Grace; Olga Faison; Lucy and Hooper Hardison; Julie Eiselt; and Gina Phillips. L2025.8.1-10; Einar and Jamex de la Torre (Mexican-American, 1963– and 1960– respectively).

So Chuy (detail), 2025, concept rendering. Courtesy of the artists.

The de la Torre Brothers (Einar and Jamex) create layered, visually dense works with blown glass, molded resin, lenticular imagery, and found objects. In these carnivalesque images, the brothers remix the iconography of Mexican and American culture to reflect on bicultural identity and belief. Drawing from the traditions and contradictions of both worlds, their work is at once playful, pointed, and deeply symbolic.

32

Spring 2026

So Chuy turns on a double entendre. “Chuy” (pronounced “chewy”) is a common nickname for Jesús in Mexico, while also evoking the undertones of literal and symbolic cannibalism found in both Aztec and Catholic art and ritual.

The circular composition references Aztec calendar stones and Buddhist mandalas—forms built from tightly packed imagery with spiritual resonance. Within this shifting field, Catholic icons, anatomical illustrations, and food imagery collide.

Rendered as a lenticular image, the work changes as the viewer moves, reinforcing its layered meanings and fluid perspectives.

Raised in Guadalajara, Mexico, until relocating to California in 1972, the brothers now live and work on both sides of the border, between Ensenada, Baja California, and San Diego—a transnational existence that continues to shape both the form and content of their practice. So Chuy is the fourth work acquired by the Mint using the Windgate Endowment, a special fund allocated to support the purchase of contemporary craft to allow the museum to continue building this cornerstone of the collection.

Deutsche Bucherei Leipzig IX

by Candida Höfer Candida Höfer photographs spaces of learning across Europe, recording how those spaces are constructed, often with an opulence and order that reflects the venerated status of the objects stored within these spaces. In Deutsche Bucherei Leipzig IX Höfer records the quiet empty space of one of the rooms of the German National Library in Leipzig, a branch that specifically offers eight distinctly differentiated rooms in which to read, recognizing the effect the environment has on even a private, personal experience like reading a book.

Höfer’s photo is part of a major gift of significant selections from Bank of America’s corporate photography collection.

The Bank of America gift includes 19th and early 20th century works and important photographers from Europe, Asia, and Africa, as well as those from North America.

Jen Sudul Edwards, PhD, is chief curator and curator of Contemporary Art at The Mint Museum.

ABOVE: Candida Höfer (German, 1944–). Deutsche Bucherei Leipzig IX, 1997, color coupler print. Gift of Bank of America. 2025.75.36 © 2026 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

mintmuseum.org

33

SHAKING THINGS UP WITH THE DA LOWCOUNTRY COASTA ARTIST COREY ALSTON’S NEW WORK AT MINT MUSEUM UPTOWN RESHAPES THE GULLAH TRADITION OF SWEETGRASS BASKETRY

BY MICHELE HUGGINS

When master sweetgrass basket artist Corey Alston set the oval form on his lap, he was bracing for a fight. “Ovals don’t sit flat,” he says, almost laughing. “They never do.”

Rounds are stable. Ovals insist on misbehaving—twisting, tipping, lifting at the edges. Alston’s new commission for The Mint Museum, is the first sweetgrass sculpture he has created with an oval shape and it had to sit solidly on its base and hold its shape. “You have to wrestle it into place.

It takes some magic and the grace of God.” Alston, known for reimagining the centuries-old Gullah Geechee tradition of sweetgrass basketry, calls the piece Da Lowcountry Coasta—its name spelled intentionally in Gullah. The work is a centerpiece in the recent rotation in the Schiff-Bresler Fiber Arts Gallery at Mint Museum Uptown. With its sweeping arcs, intersecting loops, and architectural curves, the work feels, as Alston puts it, “like a roller coaster with twists and spins and bends.”

Alston works with no machines, no synthetic fibers—only sweetgrass, bullrush, and palmetto leaf. The grasses age into their own colors; he counts nothing and measures nothing. “This art form is all by touch,” he says. “Eightyfive percent feeling, maybe fifteen percent sight.” He has carpal tunnel in both wrists, and yet he refuses corrective surgery. “I need my feeling,” he says.

A process of relentless revision Perfection, for Alston, is non-negotiable. Midway through the Mint commission, after weeks of weaving, he studied the developing form and felt unmoved. “It didn’t wow me,” he recalls. “So I cut the whole top off.” It cost him three weeks of labor.

A sculptural form built by generations

Originally, the basket featured a crisscrossed handle system. He removed it entirely, returning to the base and reimagining the upper structure with interlocking loops— an almost impossibly difficult feat. “It’s easier to make individual loops,” he says. “But intertwining them takes it to another level.”

What first reads as decorative is in fact structural engineering. The dips around the spindles? They are reinforcements. They look like a lip, but that’s function.

Now, the looping architecture defines the basket—rolling, cresting, embracing the oval below it. “Once I looped it,” he says, “the whole dynamic changed.”

A tradition carried forward and reimagined Sweetgrass basketry is among the oldest continuous art forms in the United States, brought from west and central Africa by enslaved people and preserved in the Gullah Geechee community in the lowcountry of South Carolina.

Alston grew up in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, seven generations deep. His family descended from enslaved brickmakers; his wife Karen’s family descended from enslaved rice cultivators. He married into the basketweaving lineage at age 19, with Karen’s grandmother’s blessing. “You don’t just decide to make baskets,” he says.

“You’re allowed to.”

A forklift driver at the time, Alston was poised to move to Charlotte when his job was being relocated. His motherin-law stopped him.

“She said, why don’t you try the family business instead of uprooting everybody?” He had already studied African culture and preservation in high school. When his wife’s grandmother, nationally acclaimed artist Mary Jane Manigault, gave her blessing for Alston to learn the family tradition. He became the fifth generation to carry on the family legacy.

Alston now is the leading sweetgrass basket maker of his generation, moving the tradition forward by inventing his own large-scale, complex forms like Da Lowcountry Coasta.

36

Spring 2026

He is one of few men who practice the craft but also uses his art to promote the Gullah culture via public presentations, articles, social media, and his booth at the Charleston City Market in Charleston, South Carolina. In addition to this piece at the Mint, he has created commissions for the Duke Foundation and Smithsonian Institution.

Carolina inspiration in sweetgrass Alston’s inspiration for Da Lowcountry Coasta came as he traveled to and from Charlotte along Interstate 77. Every time he crossed the border of North and South Carolina, he saw the rollercoasters at Carowinds theme park—Carolina Cyclone, Fury 325, Afterburn, and the Intimidator. He decided to make a sweetgrass basket sculpture reminiscent of a rollercoaster that represented the Carolinas.

Rarely making sweetgrass sculptures in the shape of ovals, Da Lowcountry Coasta is displayed at an angle in the gallery that emphasizes its sculptural presence rather than its roots in utilitarian craft.

IMAGES: Corey Alston (American (Gullah), 1982–). Da Lowcountry Coasta (detail), 2025, bulrush, sweetgrass, palmetto, coiled. Museum Purchase: Windgate Fund. 2025.65

“Every piece I make, I try to challenge myself. And if I can’t do that, I cut it in half and start again.”

Standing before Da Lowcountry Coasta, with its unique oval, architectural interior, and looping coils of bullrush and sweetgrass, it’s clear he met the challenge—and then some!

Michele Huggins is associate director of marketing and communications at The Mint Museum.

Don't Miss Wednesday Night Live: Sweetgrass and Gullah Heritage Mint Museum Uptown May 6, 7–8:30 PM | Free, cash bar Corey Alston, creator of the Mint’s recent acquisition Da Lowcountry Coasta, is joined by renowned sweetgrass artists Mary Jackson and Stoney Jackson, to discuss the tradition of sweetgrass basketry and Gullah culture.

mintmuseum.org

37

FOCUSING ON PHOTOGRAPHY THE MINT MUSEUM’S PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION DOUBLES THANKS TO A GIFT FROM BANK OF AMERICA

BY MICHELE HUGGINS

It started with a single shipment in late August 2025. Carefully wrapped photographs arrived at The Mint Museum. Thanks to a multiyear gift from Bank of America, the delivery marked the launch of a bold new chapter for the museum.

19th through the 21st centuries, the photographs reflect the depth of Bank of America’s expansive collection while tracing photography’s evolution as both an art form and a powerful storytelling medium.

Throughout the next five years, the Mint is set to receive more than 1,000 photographs from Bank of America’s photography collection, effectively doubling the museum’s photography holdings and establishing the foundation for a dedicated photography gallery. Once complete, the initiative will position the Mint as home to one of the premier photography collections in the southeastern United States.

“Photography is one of the most accessible and dynamic mediums today,” says Todd A. Herman, PhD, president and CEO of The Mint Museum. “It reflects how we see the world—and how the world sees us. This transformative gift allows us to share powerful stories, cultivate new talent, and serve our community in new and meaningful ways.”

The initial group of works offers a preview of what’s to come and follows the landmark exhibition ANNIE LEIBOVITZ | WORK at the Mint that was received with rave reviews throughout the Charlotte region and beyond. Spanning the ABOVE: Roger Fenton (British, 1819–69). Officers of the 42nd Highlanders (detail), 1856, 1856 negative, albumen print. Gift of Bank of America. 2025.75.20

38

Spring 2026

Among the artists represented are some of the most influential figures in the history of photography, including Richard Avedon, Chuck Close, Rineke Dijkstra, Lee Friedlander, Lyle Ashton Harris, Candida Höfer, Sally Mann, Robert Mapplethorpe, Richard Misrach, Catherine Opie, Irving Penn, Raghubir Singh, Paul Strand, William E. Williams, and Garry Winogrand. Their work ranges from intimate portraits to sweeping landscapes, offering visitors a wide-ranging view of the medium’s expressive power.

Central to the initiative is the creation of a permanent photography gallery at the Mint—ensuring that photographic works are always on view. The space will serve not only as an exhibition venue, but also as a resource for artists, educators, and students, supporting artist development and inspiring inclusive, innovative public programming.

“We believe investing in the arts has a positive impact on our lives and enriches the local communities we serve. The donation of these photographs is part of our continuing commitment to creating a brighter future for Charlotte.”

—Kieth Cockrell

For Bank of America, the gift reflects a long-standing commitment to the arts and to Charlotte’s cultural vitality.

Over decades of growth, the bank acquired works of art from legacy institutions such as NCNB and LaSalle Bank, initially to decorate offices. Today, the collection encompasses more than 20,000 works by a diverse range of artists.

“We are excited to support The Mint Museum as it transforms its photography collection into one of the premier exhibits in the Southeast,” says Kieth Cockrell, president of Bank of America Charlotte. Looking ahead, the Mint plans to deepen community involvement around the growing collection. In 2027, the museum will host a major exhibition celebrating the Bank of America gift, organized by Chief Curator and Curator of Contemporary Art Jen Sudul Edwards, PhD. Allen Blevins, former Bank of America arts and culture executive, and Kelle Botkin, former assistant to the curator of the Hallmark Photography Collection—both of whom played key roles in shaping the donation—will also advise on the organization of the inaugural exhibition.

In the meanwhile, look for a few of the gifted photographs on view in the exhibition Recent Acquisitions, opening March 14 at Mint Museum Uptown.

As each new photograph joins the collection, the Mint’s vision comes more clearly into view: a place where images spark dialogue, preserve diverse voices, and invite the public to see the world—and Charlotte itself—through a richer, more expansive lens.

Michele Huggins is associate director of marketing and communications at The Mint Museum.

RIGHT (from top): Carolyn DeMeritt (American, 1946–). Billy Smith, Creek, Poarch, AL (detail), 1997, archival pigment print. Gift of Bank of America. 2025.75.15; Carolyn DeMeritt (American, 1946–). Esbee Gibson, Choctaw, Conehatta, MS (detail), 1997, archival pigment print. Gift of Bank of America. 2025.75.16

mintmuseum.org

39

HONORING LEGACIES OF LEADERSHIP AND VISION Remembering Zach Smith

Mary Lou Babb (front, second from right) with her husband James "Jim" Babb, and other family members at the board room unveiling September 2025 at Mint Museum Uptown.

Recognizing Mary Lou Babb The Mint Museum is proud to recognize Mary Lou Babb for more than six decades of unwavering leadership, generosity, and dedication by naming the board room at Mint Museum Uptown in her honor. Mary Lou was surprised with a luncheon in September 2025 by family, friends, and Mint staff to celebrate her 90th birthday and the naming of the Mary Lou Babb Board Room in her honor.

Mary Lou’s relationship with the Mint spans every level of leadership. She served as an advisory board member, president of the Mint Museum Auxiliary, and a multipleterm member of the board of trustees, including three years as chairman of the board.

Zach Smith’s relationship with the Mint began in 1981 when he first joined the Board of Trustees, followed by three subsequent terms on the Board (1981 to 1988, 1991 to 1997, and 2001 to 2008). He remained a steadfast leader and advocate through his continuous service on the Collections Councils beginning in 2008 and as an Advisory Board member from 2019 until earlier in 2025.

Smith played an integral role in the 1985 expansion of Mint Museum Randolph and the opening of the original Mint Museum of Craft + Design, and chaired Mint Museum Uptown’s Building Committee. His vision and passion helped shape the growth of the museum and strengthen its commitment to the community.

Zach was a proud member of the Dwelle-McBryde Society, Romare Bearden Society, and a charter member of the Crown Society and Founders’ Circle. He and his wife, Emily, generously donated over 20 works of art to the collection, including seven by Romare Bearden. Their philanthropy through the Emily and Zach Smith Donor Advised Fund, along with their many years of sponsorship of the Mint Museum Auxiliary Antiques Show, exemplifies their deep commitment to the arts in Charlotte.

In keeping with Zach’s enduring commitment to the Mint, his family has shared that gifts made in his memory may be directed to the museum—an institution he cared for deeply and helped shape through his leadership. Zach’s legacy will live on through The Mint Museum’s collection and the Emily and Zach Smith Contemporary Gallery.

Most notably, she also served as interim acting director of The Mint Museum during a pivotal period of institutional transition helping to shape its governance, facilities, strategic direction, and long-term sustainability.

A founding Crown Society Patron and devoted supporter alongside her husband, James G. “Jim” Babb, her philanthropic leadership has strengthened the museum for generations to come.

Beyond governance, Mary Lou’s commitment to the arts is reflected in her support of significant acquisitions for our permanent collection, including works by Romare Bearden, Chuck Close, Lynne Mapp Drexler, Ken Aptekar, and Barbara Pennington—each enriching the museum’s ability to inspire, educate, and engage.

40

Spring 2026

Zach and Emily Smith.

BRIDGET KERR Fashion Fellow Bridget Kerr works with the Mint’s Craft, Design, and Fashion curatorial team assisting with collections research and exhibition preparation. Kerr, who grew up in Vermont, came to Charlotte after completing her graduate studies at the Fashion Institute of Technology to take the job as Fashion Fellow at the Mint. Since joining the Mint staff, she has been busy researching and cataloging an exhibition on designer Judith Leiber opening in fall 2026.

Why led you to choose a career in museum studies?

As a kid, I was very lucky to be a frequent visitor to the Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, Vermont, where I encountered Impressionist art alongside a steamboat surrounded by historic buildings. This really opened my understanding of what a museum truly could be. In college, I studied French and theatre with a concentration in costume construction and a minor in arts administration. I was lucky enough to study abroad in and take art history classes in Paris during my junior year. That experience opened my eyes to the world of museums, harkening back to the incredible experiences I had as a child.

When I graduated from college in May 2020, I took a job with an antique textile dealer which served as an amazing crash course in textile history. From there I discovered the graduate studies program in Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. This was a perfect combination of so many of my interests—history, clothing, textiles—and is the program that led me to the work I am passionate about.

How do you define your dream career?

In my career, I am most keen to maintain a strong relationship with objects, studying them, displaying them, and using them for education. I care very deeply about the work and the mission of museums and want to continue to bring young people into the enthusiasm that I feel for this career. A dream career for me isn't necessarily reaching the highest rank in the building but working with the objects and the people that I feel are important.

What is something about your job that may surprise people?

Much of the work that a curator does is months or even years of research and preparation. In constructing an exhibition around Judith Leiber, a large portion of my work has been researching her life and career, not only through online resources but traveling to various sites, such as the Leiber Museum in Long Island and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City to study her objects and history.

Without a strong research foundation there is no exhibition, and I relish the chance to do this work.

What is your favorite work currently on display at the Mint and why?

Da Lowcountry Coasta by Corey Alston takes my breath away. The way that Alston uses these materials [sweetgrass, bullrush, and palmetto leaf] to create something unlike anything I’ve ever seen is truly breathtaking.

What are your interests when you are not working?

I am an avowed crafter. One of my favorite hobbies is weaving, on both a floor and table loom. I also love to travel and spend time with my family. I enjoy being with my dogs—two elderly Golden Retrievers—and my elderly Siberian cat. I love trivia, getting together with friends, and enjoying the outdoors.

Any final thoughts for someone who has never visited the Mint?

Soak it all in with our permanent collection! We have several fantastic traveling exhibitions, but the Mint’s permanent collection is world class and growing every year.

Michele Huggins is associate director of marketing and communications at The Mint Museum.

mintmuseum.org

41

AFFILIATES IN ACTION Charlotte Garden Club Meander through private gardens May 2–3 during the 17th annual Art in the Garden Tour, Charlotte Garden Club's annual fundraiser. Featured gardens showcase unique designs, plein air plant artists, and food and drink vendors. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or simply enjoy natural beauty, a self-guided stroll through stunning private gardens is an opportunity for fresh ideas and inspiration. Proceeds support the club’s community programs, scholarships, and environmental stewardship efforts. Find more details about featured gardens and to purchase tickets at charlottegardenclub.com.

Docents of the Mint The Mint Docents continue to use art to develop the critical thinking of students and visitors through connections with works of art, ideas, and one another. The group welcomes visitors to look back through history, as well as look forward with tours through permanent collection exhibitions, such as Portals to the Past, to special exhibitions like Designing Dynamism, as well as the exciting work of local artists spotlighted in Constellation CLT installations throughout the museums.

In addition to gallery tours, the docents hosted a wonderful celebration of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday in December 2025 and then another Art of Reading event in early February tied to the “Bridgerton” series. Check the museum website for details on other upcoming Art of Reading programs.

Kate Spade. At Kate Spade, Arons personally influenced fashion trends that arose out of New York City during the creative and dynamic decade of the 1990s.

The auxiliary continued its speaker series with the Winter Evening of EngageMint February 5 at Mint Museum Uptown. The event featured a cocktail reception and program with Steven Naifeh, whose collection of European Art is featured in the exhibition Renaissance, Rebellion, and Romanticism.

On April 15, renowned interior designer Nate Berkus will headline the Spring Symposium in conversation with Adam Rathe, deputy features director for Town & Country magazine. Learn more at mintmuseumauxiliary.org.

Young Affiliates of the Mint As a philanthropic and social organization dedicated to supporting the arts in Charlotte, Young Affiliates of the Mint (YAMs) brings together young professionals through signature events, museum engagement, and community connection. The spring season kicked off February 20 with exclusive Charlotte Hornets game tickets. Members and guests experienced the excitement of Hornets basketball with premium seating and a private pre-game gathering.

Planning is underway for the biennial Oyster Roast, a beloved tradition that brings together live music, coastalinspired flavors, and a relaxed, festive atmosphere. Full event details, including venue and ticket release dates, will be announced soon.

The season concludes with YAMs’ signature fundraising event, Derby Days, returning on Saturday, May 2. One of Charlotte’s favorite spring parties, Derby Days features live entertainment, elevated cocktails, vibrant fashion, and a live viewing of the Kentucky Derby, all in support of The Mint Museum’s mission of arts access and community engagement. More at youngaffiliatesofthemint.org.

Mint Museum Auxiliary The Mint Museum Auxiliary kicked off its annual Room to Bloom fundraising series with the Fall EnrichMint forum featuring Elyce Arons, co-founder of Kate Spade and co-founder and CEO of Frances Valentine. The event, co-chaired by Cate Gutter and Amanda Roth, was held November 5 at Mint Museum Uptown, with stage design

by Brooke Adler Interiors and floral design by Laura Tenzer of Blomst.

Arons joined moderator Rachelle Wates, founder of Charlotte-based Byrdie Golf Social Wear, for a captivating discussion about Aron’s book “We Might Just Make it After All” that chronicles Aron’s longtime best friendship with 42

Spring 2026

ABOVE: Young Affiliates of the Mint members at the 2025 Derby Days at Mint Museum Randolph.

EVENTS AT THE MINT

POTTERS MARKET The 19th Annual Potters Market at the Mint was one of the most successful to date. More than 50 selected potters from across North Carolina sold their wares at the September event, with many selling out and ticket sales exceeding all previous years. The 2025 event was especially significant as it took place on the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene, which had a devastating impact on potters in Western North Carolina. More than 30 artists from Western North Carolina participated in the 2025 event.

mintmuseum.org

43

COLLIDOSCOPE VIP CLOSING CELEBRATION The VIP Closing Celebration of Collidoscope: de la Torre Brothers Retro-Perspective was filled with live music, dancing, and colorful attire. Artists Einar and Jamex de la Torre also presented a talk, moderated by Senior Curator of Craft, Design, and Fashion Annie Carlano, about their practice and decades-long career.

From left: Brooke Lowry, Leslie Culbertson, Jamex de la Torre, and Hillary Cooper.

From left: Julio and Megan Gonzalez.

44

Spring 2026

From left: Sydney and Andres Echevarria, and Alex Echevarria.

From left: Ramona Holloway and Dr. Kim Nixon.

PARTY IN THE PARK: SNEAKSPEAKS The October Party in the Park celebrated the opening of Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks with a custom sole station in collaboration with Shoedio, a panel discussion about sneaker concept and design, and a sneaker stroll and final sneaker battle in the Wallace Atrium. Visitors also enjoyed viewing the exhibition Central Impact: Skateboarding's Art and Influence.

mintmuseum.org

45

THANK YOU TO OUR CROWN SOCIETY PATRONS SAPPHIRE CIRCLE KELLE AND LEN BOTKIN LAURA AND MIKE GRACE MOZELLE DEPASS GRIFFITH DEIDRE GRUBB STEPHANIE S. LYNCH MARY AND DICK PAYNE PATSY M. REAMES AND RON VICK MARY ANNE (M.A.) ROGERS LEIGH-ANN AND MARTIN SPROCK ANN AND MICHAEL TARWATER CAROLYN AND BRYAN TAYLOR CURTIS AND ROCKY TRENKELBACH CHARLOTTE AND JOHN WICKHAM

NOELLE AND MARK MAHONEY

EDWIN RASBERRY

ASHLEY AND SCOTT MATTEI

MRS. S. EPES ROBINSON

JANE AND HUGH MCCOLL

SALLIE F. SCARBOROUGH

SUSAN AND LOY MCKEITHEN

MELINDA AND DAVID SNYDER

POSEY AND MARK MEALY STACI AND JEFF MILLS AMY AND MATTHEW MOORE CELENE AND MARC OKEN CHERYL A. PALMER LAURA AND TRIP PARK MARY MARGARET AND FRITZ PORTER MILTON AND MARSHELETTE PRIME BETH AND DREW QUARTAPELLA PATRICIA A. RODGERS ALLISON AND RICHARD ROEDER

DIAMOND CIRCLE

PAIGE AND ART ROSELLE

MR. AND MRS. WESTON M. ANDRESS

AMANDA AND AUGUST ROTH

JENNIFER AND ALEX BAUER

BOBBIE AND THAD SHARRETT

MARY CELESTE BEALL

TREY SHERIDAN

MARY AND WALTER BEAVER

POPE AND PEGGY SHUFORD

STEPHANIE AND HOWARD BISSELL

KATI AND CHRIS SMALL

BETSY AND ALFRED BRAND

SHANNON AND DANIELA SMITH

BILL AND ROBIN BRANSTROM

EDITH AND LANDON WYATT

SARAH G. COOPER HILLARY AND W. FAIRFAX COOPER ABBIE AND WILL COOPER MARY ANNE DICKSON OLGA AND JAY FAISON WILLIAM J. AND JENNIFER FOX LYNN AND BRIAN GOOD LISE OVREGARD HAIN BEVERLY AND JIM HANCE LUCY AND HOOPER HARDISON LAUREN A. HARKEY LAURA AND SAM JUDD JILL AND MARK KELLY BEVERLY AND MARK LADLEY MARY AND MIKE LAMACH CHELSEA LAWSON

46

Spring 2026

PLATINUM CIRCLE HOWARD P. ADAMS AND CAROL B. MCPHEE MELISSA AND JOHN ANTON MR. AND MRS. JAMES G. BABB, JR. HARRIET BARNHARDT MARY MARGARET AND JOSH BEAVER KIM AND JOHN BELK E. COLBY AND LYNNE W. CATHEY JOHN GREGORY CLEMONS MRS. JANE CONLAN MR. AND MRS. JOHN JULIAN CULBERTSON LAURIE AND NED DURDEN JULIE AND TOM EISELT THE ELIAS FAMILY EVGENIYA EZHOVA AND SERGEY MUSCHIN LAUREN AND GRANT GILBERT GEORGINE AND TREY JEFFRIES CHANDRA AND JIMMIE JOHNSON LESLIE AND JIM JOHNSON

PLATINUM PLUS CIRCLE

JACQUELINE AND SEAN JONES MARCIE AND MARTY KELSO

KATIE AND RICHARD BATES

TONI AND ALFRED KENDRICK

SARAH AND TIM BELK

LINDSEY AND ROBERT LUCENTI

SUSANNE AND RUDOLF BLESS

FRANCIE AND JOHN MANGAN

ALEXANDRA AND RORY BYRNES

LINDSAY AND STANTON MCCULLOUGH

BETH AND MICHAEL CLIFTON

DAVID AND CHARLOTTE MORITZ

HEATHER AND LARRY GWALTNEY

DANY AND CHIP NISBET

BETH AND BILL HOBBS

PAULA AND CHRIS PINK

MANDY AND TODD HOUSER

ANNE AND WALKER POOLE

CYNTHIA AND DAVID HOUSTON

GEORGE AND LINDA FOARD ROBERTS

KATHRYN AND LUKE KISSAM

BETSY ROSEN AND LIAM STOKES

MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM B. MCGUIRE, JR.

BETH SANKEY

ANNE AND CLARKE NEILSON

SABINA AND WILIFRID SCHLUMBERGER

JO ANN AND JODDY PEER

STAN SHERRILL

PARKER AND STEPHEN SHUFORD

KATHERINE G. HALL

MRS. A. ZACHARY SMITH

KATIE AND RASHID HALLAWAY

SUSAN AND KEITH SULLIVAN

ANDREW AND JOANNA HAYNES

KELLI AND BEN TELLING

AMY AND JOHN HINES

KATHYLEE AND KEN THOMPSON

CACI AND MAX JAEGER

MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM B. TIMMERMAN, JR.

VIRGINIA M. KEMP

JENNIFER AND AL WAUGH

ANNE DOWD KENNEDY

MINDY AND GEORGE WEBSTER

COCO AND RAY KILLIAN

JACKIE AND MIKE WELLS

JESSIE J. KNIGHT, JR. AND JOYE D. BLOUNT

BETSY AND BRIAN WILDER

SHELLY AND ADAM LANDAU

ROSE AND DAVIS WITTIG

BARBARA L. LAUGHLIN

JOAN H. ZIMMERMAN

BROOKE AND DOUG LOWRY

GOLD CIRCLE NATALIE FRAZIER ALLEN AND HUGH ALLEN SONIA AND RIT AMIN TRAVIS BARNES MARGARET AND SMOKY BISSELL CINDY AND SAM BOOKE MARGARET AND WALDO BRADLEY LEAH AND DAVID BRADY ANGELA AND RALPH BREEDEN TERESA AND DAVID CARROLL MONICA M. GALI AND ARMANDO L. CHARDIET KIM AND JACK COBB MRS. ROBIN COCHRAN JOHN COLLETT ANN COLLEY CATHERINE AND WILTON CONNOR LISA AND PERRIN DARGAN DOUG DAVIS ANDRES AND SIDNEY LOGAN ECHEVARRIA LISA AND CARLOS EVANS JAY EVERETTE AND BRIAN SPEAS LINDA AND BILL FARTHING AMY FRITSCHE AND FELIX VON UKLANSKI PATTY AND ALEX FUNDERBURG ANNA AND SCOTT GLASS NANNETTE AND THOMAS GORMAN CLAY GRUBB

KAIT MCELWEE MARLEY JULIANNE MARLEY LESLIE AND MICHAEL MARSICANO SUSAN AND ALEX MCALISTER KAREN AND JP MCBRYDE MR. AND MRS. NEILL G. MCBRYDE RENEE AND HUGH MCCOLL III RICHARD MCHENRY AND CINDY CALDWELL ULRIKE AND ALEXANDER MILES MARGARET A. MONTAGUE KATIE AND WALKER MORRIS SHANNON AND KARL NEWLIN SUZANNE AND BILL NICHOLS DR. KIM NIXON MR. AND MRS. BAILEY PATRICK, JR. RHONDA AND JOSHUA PATT SUSAN AND SAM RANKIN

JOHN A. THOMPSON AND LEE R. ROCAMORA AMY AND HAL TRIBBLE JANE AND TREY TUNE BETSY FLEMING AND ED WEISIGER, JR. LYNDA AND BOB WILHELM FRANCES AND DUBOSE WILLIAMSON ADAM EUGENE WILLIS

SILVER CIRCLE AMANDA AND DAVID ALBRECHT HON. JOHN S. ARROWOOD CAROLINE AND IAN BANWELL ALICIA BARNES AND JACOB JOHN DEBBIE AND GARY BLANKEMEYER ALLEN BLEVINS AND ARMANDO AISPURO BETSY AND BILL BLUE AMY AND PHILIP BLUMENTHAL DR. LARRY BRADY AND MR. ROMAN MATSO KATHLEEN AND TERRY BRODERICK CANTEY AND JEFF BROWN JOYCE CADESCA LAURA YATES CLARK NICK CLEMENTI AMY LIZ AND CHARLES COLLINS SHAWNA DYE CULIK MILLIE AND TOM COX BRITTANY AND TYLER DODDS NELIA AND WILL DOLAN ANNE HOWARD DOOLEY AND

CHRYS AND CHES RILEY

COLEMAN WRIGHT

MANUEL RODRIGUEZ

DR. JEN SUDUL EDWARDS AND

RUTH AND TREVOR RUNBERG

MR. GAVIN EDWARDS

KIM AND MATT SALSBURY

ANNA AND DENNIS ELLIOT

AIDA AND GREG SAUL

SUSAN AND STEVE ENGLEHART

JANE AND CARL SHOWALTER

KATHY AND TOM EWING

MATTYE AND MARC SILVERMAN

ELIZABETH AND JOHN FAGG

ANNE CARTER AND DEAN SMITH

CHRISTA AND ROBERT FAUT

TIFFANY AND SCOTT SMITH

SARAH AND WILL FISHER

LUCY AND LOUIS STEPHENS

SANDY AND GEORGE FISHER

PAM AND HARDING STOWE

CASSELL AND JOHN FITZHUGH

MARGARET AND JOHN SWITZER

MARJORIE FOLEY

mintmuseum.org

47

MYRA GASSMAN SYBIL GODWIN LEIGH AND BILL GOODWYN SUSIE AND TED GROSS COLLEEN KARNAS-HAINES AND ASHER HAINES TRACY AND H. K. HALLETT MARGARET HAMNER MR. AND MRS. WATTS HAMRICK III MARTHA L. HARBISON AND RON COX TRICIA AND DONNY HARRISON CLAUDIA AND ANDY HEATH SORAJA HELAC ANNE J. HENDERSON LIZ HILLIARD AND LEE KENNELLY THEODORE HILLIN AND LUCY BREAULT HILLIN LYNN AND CHARLEY HODGES BARBARA HOLT DR. CHIP AND VICTORIA HOWELL LANIER AND DOUG HOY DR. DIANE D. JACOBSEN JODIANNE AND SKIP JOHNSON AMY HYLAND JONES CATHERINE RUTH AND ALEX KELLY MICHELLE KEMPF JOAN M. KIRSCHNER PHYLLIS M. KIRWAN LORNE E. LASSITER AND GARY P. FERRARO MR. AND MRS. HAYNES P. LEA HOPE AND JOHN LEAK JANET LECLAIR AND JOHN BRAGG, JR. TERI LICARI DR. A. DAVIS LIGON, JR. ELEANOR AND ALBERT LINDEMANN DRS. SIU CHALLONS-LIPTON AND JORDAN LIPTON MEGAN AND KEVIN LIST NAN AND BILL LOFTIN JONELL AND JUAN LOGAN

DEBORAH AND ROGER LOVELETT

AGNES AND THOMAS RAGSDALE

LUIS MACHICAO

DEBORAH HALLIDAY AND

WESLEY A. MANCINI DR. MARIE-CLAIRE MARROUM-KARDOUS ROSEMARIE MARSHALL AND LEE WILKINS MS. VARSHA MATHUR AND DR. MAHESH SARDESAI KIM AND DAVID MAUNEY JOSEPH M. MCCALL ANNA AND JOHN MCCOY B. LEE AND MIKE MCGARRY DEE DEE MCKAY MADELINE AND JAMES MCLELLAND JERALD AND MARY MELBERG DYKE AND DEBORAH MESSINGER LAURIN MEYER AND LINWOOD BRITTON VICKY AND BILL MITCHENER ARRINGTON H. MIXON KIMBERLY AND GEOFFREY MIZE STEPHANIE AND SAM MUHS JANET PREYER NELSON KRISTIN OLSON AND JONATHAN MARMOR STACEY AND TIMOTHY PAYNE LISA AND TOM PHILLIPS LIZ AND DAVID POLLET MAHROO PUTNEY SUSAN AND JOHN RAE

GARY RAUTENSTRAUCH RENEE AND DAVID REESE MICHAEL A. RODRIGUEZ AND BRANT BEZILA SARA AND DAN ROSELLI KYLE ROSIER PAULA AND DALT RUFFIN WILLIAM L. AND JANE O. SALTER ANNA STAVRESKA AND NATE BRINKLEY ANN AND WELLFORD TABOR MAC TAYLOR SANDI AND BEN THORMAN LAURIN AND DEREK TITUS MELISSA AND PAUL TOLMIE JUDITH AND GARY TOMAN PATTI TRACEY AND CHRIS HUDSON MARGARET AND CHRIS ULLRICH MICHELLE AND ROBERT VARY NELIA AND MICHAEL VERANO PATRICIA COX VISER VERA WATSON TRACY AND LAWRENCE WATTS DOROTHEA F. WEST LESLIE AND SPENCE WHITMAN RICHARD “STICK” AND TERESA WILLIAMS KELLY AND CLAY YOUNG

MARY AND BOB LONG VINCE LONG AND CAMERON FURR

48

Spring 2026

ABOVE (from left): Laura Grace, and Joddy and Jo Ann Peer.

CURATOR’S PICK In summer 2025, the museum was fortunate to be the winning bidder for Driftwood, a fascinating painting by mid-century realist painter Zoltan Sepeshy. For decades, Sepeshy was a popular instructor, and later director and president, at the Cranbrook Academy in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Most of his works depict scenes of everyday life in America, with a particular focus on the Midwest. The museum does not currently have much in its collection to represent this aspect of American art, often referred to as “American Scene” painting.

Jonathan Stuhlman, PhD, is senior curator of American Art at The Mint Museum.

In Driftwood, Sepeshy focuses the viewer’s attention on a summer beach scene by framing it with a hole in a piece of wood. This unusual composition was perhaps inspired by those of other American artists, such as Georgia O’Keeffe,

ABOVE: Zoltan Sepeshy (American, born in Hungary, 1898–1974).

Driftwood, 1941, egg tempura on panel. Museum purchase: Funds provided by The Katherine McKay Belk Charitable Fund and an Anonymous Donor. 2025.54

who had previously used holes in cattle skulls and pelvises in a similar fashion, and Paul Cadmus, who did the same with seashells in some of his own beach scenes.

See the painting in the Recent Acquisitions exhibition on view March 14 through July 19 at Mint Museum Uptown.

mintmuseum.org

49

Mint Museum Uptown

at Levine Center for the Arts 500 South Tryon Street Charlotte, NC 28202

Mint Museum Randolph 2730 Randolph Road Charlotte, NC 28207 mintmuseum.org @themintmuseum 704.337.2000

MAKE YOUR BIG DAY A WORK OF ART. Whether it’s your wedding, rehearsal, anniversary, or a cocktail party to celebrate your birthday; our venues guarantee an experience in a setting your guests will never forget. mintmuseum.org/rent-the-museum

The Nelsons Photo | @thenelsonsphoto