With so much to see and do in New Orleans, many forget that the city’s art scene is just as vibrant as the food and music. February is a great time to visit a museum. Check out the highlighted exhibits below and search our calendar to find even more art in New Orleans. 

POLO SILK PRESENTS: Cash Money Records from the '99 – 2000 

POLO SILK PRESENTS: Cash Money Records from the '99 – 2000 is an exhibition of photographs by Selwhyn Sthaddeus “Polo Silk” Terrell (b. 1964, New Orleans) capturing the Rap, Hip-Hop, and Bounce scenes of New Orleans as fostered and popularized by the legendary Cash Money Records. See it at Sibyl Gallery on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 – 6 p.m. through March 16. 

The Women in Football: Kick [Gl]ass Exhibit
Image courtesy of Longue Vue House & Gardens
The Women in Football: Kick [Gl]ass Exhibit

The Women in Football: Kick [Gl]ass Exhibit 

This exhibition explores the remarkable journeys of women who have defied expectations, shattered glass ceilings, and left an indelible mark on the sport, theirs are the strong shoulder pads the game is built on today. From pioneering players who fought for recognition and opportunities to the influential executives and coaches who shaped the game, we uncover hidden histories and unsung heroines who paved the way for today’s female athletes. See it at Longue Vue House & Gardens from February 5 to March 15. 

“If You Look Hard Enough, You Can See Our Future” 

At the Newcomb Art Museum from February 20 – June 20, this exhibit features paintings, works on paper, sculptures, and photography from the Nando collection that were created in South Africa between 1948 and 2020. This exhibition underscores the collection’s particularly strong holdings in portraiture, cityscapes, landscapes, and colorful abstractions. 

Keith Duncan, South Carolina State University Drum Major, 2023 – 2024, Acrylic, marker and patterned paper on paper, 18 x 24 inches
© Keith Duncan. Courtesy of the artist and Fort Gansevoort, New York
Keith Duncan, South Carolina State University Drum Major, 2023 – 2024, Acrylic, marker and patterned paper on paper

“Battle of the Bands” 

Ogden Museum of Southern Art is proud to present “Battle of the Bands,” Keith Duncan’s most recent body of work that celebrates the vibrant tradition of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) marching bands. The exhibition features large-scale fabric paintings of 15 Southern HBCU bands, along with human-scale fabric paintings and smaller works on paper depicting each band’s drum major. The exhibit is on view from February 15 – August 10, 2025. 

“Fighting for the Right to Fight: African American Experiences in World War II” 

Open and on view at the National WWII Museum through July 27, 2025, “Fighting for the Right to Fight: African American Experiences in World War II” honors the significant role millions of Black servicemembers and Home Front workers played in securing Allied victory, even as they faced discrimination. Examining the turbulent decades between Emancipation and the outbreak of World War II, the exhibit paints a picture of life for African Americans marked by periods of progress and setbacks.