Meridian Museum of Art

08/28/2026

Gary Walters

1942-2026

From 2013 when he exhibited at Meridian Museum of Art

With roots in the Mississippi Delta, Gary has painted thousands of watercolors since he was a small boy. While the Delta is the inspiration for many of his works, the real subject of his paintings is color and shape. Gary paints what he describes as “designed realism,” of realistic scenes designed the way he sees them.

In addition to being a professional artist, Gary has spent more than three decades teaching art on all levels – from kindergarten to college to professional workshops. A Christian artist and a native of Jackson, he attended Hinds Community

College, where he won honors as the school’s most outstanding art student. While attending Mississippi College, Gary received the Bellaman Award for the most creative art student. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Mississippi College. Over the past 35 years, Walters has had numerous one-man shows. In 1993, he was honored as Art Alumnus of the Year at Mississippi College now Mississippi Christian University.

Gary has works in many public and private collections in the United States and several countries around the world. His work has won many awards, including The Bellamon award for creativity, a Mississippi Legislative Award for bringing honor to the state of Mississippi and an induction into the Felton F. Waggoner Hall of Honor. Gary’s first book was a Limited Edition publication titled “Delta Dream: The Mississippi Delta Paintings” and his second book is titled “Delta Dreamin’.” Both books feature works of his beloved Mississippi Delta.

08/27/2026

🎨 Meet Our Fall Instructor — Cary Haycox!
We are excited to welcome Cary Haycox as one of our fall instructors at the Museum School of Art!
Cary is an accomplished artist and educator who brings a wonderful combination of artistic experience, creativity and a genuine love of teaching. He is a founding member of the Meridian Museum Art Collective and has been involved in murals, community art projects, painting, printmaking and plein-air painting throughout our area.
We think you’re going to enjoy getting to know Cary and learning from him!
🖌️ Cary’s class begins next Thursday and will continue through the fall, finishing before Thanksgiving.
Classes are held at the Museum School of Art, directly across the street from the Meridian Museum of Art.
Come join us, get creative and spend some time making art with Cary this fall!
📍 Museum School of Art
🎨 Classes begin next Thursday
🍂 Fall session ends before Thanksgiving
We’d love to have you in class!

08/27/2026

Meet Marsha Iverson 🎨

For more than 30 years, Marsha Iverson has been inspiring young people through art and education—and retirement certainly hasn’t slowed her down!
Marsha earned her bachelor’s degree in Clothing and Textiles with a minor in Fine Art from the University of Southern Mississippi and later earned a Master of Science in Education in Special Education, Gifted, Talented and Creative Education from Arkansas State University.
During her teaching career in Biloxi and Meridian, Marsha taught middle and high school students and was recognized for her creative and innovative approach to education. She was selected as a Jordan Fundamentals teacher, an honor recognizing educators who went beyond traditional instruction to provide meaningful opportunities for their students. She also served on Mississippi’s Visual and Performing Arts Framework Committee, helping shape arts education across the state.
One of the most meaningful parts of Marsha’s career has been the impact she has had on individual students. In 2017, Mississippi School of the Arts STAR Student Piper Bott named Marsha her STAR Teacher, remembering how Marsha encouraged her to approach art “on my own terms.”
Since retiring from the classroom in 2016, Marsha has continued to teach and develop curriculum for youth, adults and retirees at the Meridian Museum of Art. She is also an active artist and member of the Meridian Museum Art Collective, where she combines her love of art, education and community. The Collective has created murals throughout Meridian and the surrounding area, using public art as a way to bring people together and inspire the next generation.
Marsha’s philosophy is beautifully simple: “Nothing is more exciting than seeing younger people pick up the torch and run with it.”
At the Meridian Museum of Art, we are grateful that Marsha continues to share her knowledge, creativity and enthusiasm with our community. She is a wonderful example of how a career in education can continue to make a difference long after the classroom changes. ❤️🎨
Thank you, Marsha, for helping generations of students—and our community—see what is possible through art!

08/27/2026

There’s still time to register!

https://www.meridianmuseum.org/all-classes/p/fallspring-after-school-classes

We are excited to announce that registration is now open for Fall After-School Art Classes at the Meridian Museum of Art!

The fall session will run for 12 weeks, from September 3 through November 19, with classes held every Thursday from 4:00–5:00 p.m. Three different age groups will be offered, allowing students to create, learn, and explore art alongside others in their age group.

Fall Session: September 3–November 19
Day & Time: Thursdays, 4:00–5:00 p.m.
Length: 12 weeks
Age Groups: 6-8, 9-12, & 13-17

Registration is available through our website:

https://www.meridianmuseum.org/all-classes/p/fallspring-after-school-classes

We look forward to welcoming your children back to the Museum this fall for another semester of creativity! If you have any questions about the classes or registration, please do not hesitate to contact us.

08/25/2026

The 52nd Annual Bi-State Exhibition is now on display!

Here’s a sneak peek at just a few of the 81 pieces juried into this year’s exhibition. Featuring everything from drawings and paintings to photography and sculpture, this year’s show highlights the incredible variety of artistic talent across Mississippi and Alabama.

Come see the work of more than 70 talented artists and experience the creativity, perspectives, and range of work represented in this year’s exhibition!

The exhibition is on display now at the Meridian Museum of Art. A closing reception with awards announcement will take place October 10, from 1-3 p.m. We hope to see you soon!

08/25/2026

The beginning of a new art installation on the Weidmann’s wall in Ann’s Alley. Excited about this one 🤠

Meridian Museum Art Collective Meridian Museum of Art

08/25/2026

We have two sessions left for this needed journey.