Spelman College Museum of Fine Art

The Spelman College Museum of Fine Art inspires and enriches the Spelman College community and the general public through art by and about women of the African Diaspora.

The Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, which is located on the first floor of the Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby, Ed.D., Academic Center, has been a vital resource for the Spelman College community—and beyond—since it opened in 1996. Initial plans for the Museum were spearheaded by arts faculty who believed that visual art is an essential component of a liberal arts education and that it plays a significant role in encouraging the intellectual growth and development of students. With its unwavering commitment to Black women artists, the Museum has become a unique hub for the Spelman community and the Atlanta University Center.

Working collaboratively with departments including Art & Visual Culture, Anthropology and Sociology, the African Diaspora and the World Program, Women’s Studies, English, and many others, the Museum heightens pedagogical learning, integrates object-based learning into the academic curriculum, and fosters a lifelong and interdisciplinary engagement with visual art. The Museum has a growing reputation for presenting projects that are bold, daring, and mission-focused and expands art offerings in Atlanta, the region, and beyond. While the Museum is a site for teaching and learning, it is open to the public and welcomes audiences beyond the Spelman community.

The Museum realizes its unique mission through its three priorities: presenting ambitious exhibitions, organizing dynamic and empowering programs, and expanding its collection.