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Lindsey Wilson University Lucretia C. Begley Art Gallery to Feature Six Shows in 2025-26

Exhibits include works by gallery's namesake, university alumni and employees, two photographers, student artists.

by Duane Bonifer

COLUMBIA, Ky. (08/20/2025) — An exhibit that honors the gallery's namesake, works by university alumni and employees, two photography exhibits, and the culmination of students' undergraduate work highlight this year's exhibition schedule at Lindsey Wilson University's Lucretia C. Begley Art Gallery.

The half-dozen shows will offer visitors a wide diversity of art, created in several mediums.

"As Edgar Degas said, 'Art is not what you see, but what you make others see,'" said Lindsey Wilson Performing Arts Director Kristyne Gilbert.

Gilbert, who is also serving her first year as curator of the Begley Gallery, said this year is "an exciting journey for me filled with opportunities to shape narratives, connect artists with audiences, and foster a deeper appreciation for art."

Gilbert said that "with the excitement of this school year being the first one as Lindsey Wilson University, I'd like visitors to see the importance of having a gallery on campus that is for everyone, including for area residents and schools."

Gilbert said she aimed for this year's gallery schedule to celebrate Lindsey Wilson's nearly 125-year heritage.

"This year the exhibition schedule pays homage to those who have played a vital role in Lindsey Wilson arts, starting with Lucretia Begley's exhibit," said Gilbert. "The year will be filled with a new alumni art show, a faculty and staff show, and a fabulous, thought-provoking collection of work from award-winning, nationally recognized photographer. I look forward to seeing everyone in the gallery."

The season opens Aug. 25 with "Lucretia Begley Retrospective: A Delicate Expression of the Seasons," a retrospective of the career of Adair County artist Lucretia C. Begley, whose gallery bears her name. Begley was a public school teacher, served for nine years as an art professor on the Lindsey Wilson faculty and became a well-known Southcentral Kentucky artist.

Begley's works will be on display through Oct. 10.

The second show will be the Lindsey Wilson Alumni Fine Art Exhibition, which will be in both the Begley Gallery and in the foyer of the W.W. Slider Humanities Center. It will show from Oct. 20-Dec. 13 with a public reception set for 5-7 p.m. CT Oct. 24.

Original works by Lindsey Wilson faculty and staff will be on display from Jan. 20-Feb. 27, with a public reception to be announced later in the school year.

The fourth show will feature works from March 16-April 10 in the Begley Gallery by award-winning and nationally recognized photographer Natalie Jackson of Peoria, Illinois. Jackson's works have won numerous awards, and her art has been featured in galleries throughout the U.S.

Also on display March 16-April 10 in the Slider Humanities Center foyer will be works that pay tribute to Women's HIstory Month, which is celebrated every March.

The Lindsey Wilson Senior Show will feature works by university seniors in both the Begley Gallery and Slider Humanities Center foyer from April 20-May 2, with the gallery talk to be announced later in the school year.

The final show of the year in the Begley Gallery will be photographs of flora, still life and other scenes by regional artist and farmer Paul Bela. It will be on display May 11-July 31.

The Lucretia C. Begley Art Gallery is located in the W.W. Slider Humanities Center. Gallery hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. CT Monday-Friday and by special appointment. For more information about the 2025-26 Lucretia C. Begley Art Gallery exhibition schedule, contact Kristyne Gilbert at gilberk@lindsey.edu 270-384-8007.

Lindsey Wilson University is a vibrant liberal arts university in Columbia, Kentucky. Founded in 1903 and affiliated with The United Methodist Church, the mission of Lindsey Wilson is to serve the educational needs of students by providing a living-learning environment within an atmosphere of active caring and Christian concern where every student, every day, learns and grows and feels like a real human being. Lindsey Wilson offers 28 undergraduate majors, five graduate programs and a doctoral program. The university's 29 intercollegiate varsity athletic teams have won more than 120 team and individual national championships.

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The Lindsey Wilson University 2025-26 Lucretia C. Begley Art Gallery exhibition schedule will feature six shows between Aug. 25-July 31.

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