The creative genius of Black artists from the American South has long been undervalued and overlooked. But now there is a concerted campaign to erase the artistic contributions of Black Americans from our nation’s artistic narrative by defunding federal agencies, threatening arts institutions, and bullying advocates of free expression.

Souls Grown Deep is fighting to counter this new concerted campaign. Through our ongoing documentation, preservation, and celebration of extraordinary artists from the Black Belt we are ensuring their voices and works endure, illuminating the depth and power of Black artistic expression for future generations.

But we cannot do this vital work without your help.

Your support makes it possible for us to:

  • Document and share the stories of artists whose brilliance has too often been forgotten.
  • Preserve and protect invaluable artworks, keeping them safe for all to see, study, and draw strength from.
  • Transfer exceptional pieces to public collections where they belong—front and center in our museums and in the heart of our nation’s cultural conversation.
  • Rise above the ebbs and flows of the art market, championing the legacy and significance of Black creativity on its own terms.
  • Stage exhibitions and issue publications putting Black Southern artists in the public eye.
  • Create new revenue opportunities for Black Southern artists and/or their descendants through licensing agreements, creative collaborations, and cultural tourism

Your gift helps us serve the communities that gave rise to these artists—communities whose resilience and imagination continue to fuel the very essence of American art.

Help us ensure that the legacy of artists like Thornton Dial, Mary T. Smith, Charlie Lucas, Joe Minter, the quilters of Gee’s Bend, and so many others, will never be erased. Join us in centering Black artists, telling their stories with dignity, and preserving their work for the world.

Support Souls Grown Deep today, and stand with us in securing a future where Black creativity is celebrated, cherished, and never forgotten.