My Soul Has Grown Deep considers the art-historical significance of contemporary black artists working throughout the southeastern United States. These paintings, drawings, mixed-media compositions, sculptures, and textiles include works ranging from the profound assemblages of Thornton Dial to the renowned quilts of Gee’s Bend. Nearly 60 remarkable examples are illustrated alongside insightful texts that situate them in the history of modernism and the context of African American experience in the 20th-century South. This study simultaneously considers these works on their own merits while also making connections to mainstream contemporary art. The authors illuminate shared artistic practices, including the novel use of found or salvaged materials, the artists’ interest in improvisational approaches across media, and a thoughtful consideration of the cultural and political history of the American South during and after the Civil Rights era. These diverse works tell the compelling stories of artists who overcame enormous obstacles to create distinctive and culturally resonant works of art.

Moderated by Kristi McMillan, adult programs manager.