Dusti Bongé: Modernist of the South

The Walter Anderson Museum of Art (WAMA) is proud to announce its newest exhibition, Dusti Bongé: Modernist of the South, on view from June 11 through November 30, 2025. Comprising 24 works on paper, canvas, and Masonite from public and private collections across Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama, the exhibition celebrates the life, legacy, and expansive body of work of Dusti Bongé (1903 – 1993), a pioneering force in modernist painting. Her roots in Biloxi, Mississippi, deeply influenced her dynamic, expressive style. Dusti Bongé is recognized today as one of the foremost Southern modernist painters of the 20th century. The artist experimented widely throughout her career, exploring Cubism, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, among other movements. Her work features imagery of the region, morphing throughout her lifetime to reflect representations of the artist’s experiences, dreams, and visions. The WAMA presentation includes depictions of vernacular architecture and maritime activities associated with Gulf Coast life alongside abstract compositions providing a distinctive selection drawn from her diverse oeuvre.