JONESBORO, Ark. – Former Gov. Mike Beebe has donated artwork by former Arkansas resident V. L. Cox to the Bradbury Art Museum at Arkansas State University.
The donated piece, titled “Beau,” belongs to Cox’s important series “Images of the American South,” a body of work the artist developed over more than three decades and registered with the Library of Congress.
According to Dr. Julia Wintner, director of Bradbury Art Museum, Cox, now New York-based, has an impressive record of exhibitions and recognition for her powerful, uncompromising work confronting social injustice, discrimination, and the enduring legacies of the American South.
“This remarkable series incorporates historical objects, including vintage screen doors and other found materials, to explore the history, memory, and social complexities of the American South,” according to Wintner. “As the artist explains, she is passionate about preserving history through original historical objects that tell stories and reflect America’s past.”
Beebe’s motivation to make the gift was personal. “This work of art is very special to me, and I want to share it with as many people as possible,” he stated.
Born in Louisiana and raised in Arkansas, Cox earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Henderson State University. Cox’s outstanding career as an artist is documented in the Encyclopedia of Arkansas.
“The donation is particularly meaningful for the Bradbury Art Museum, as it brings the work of an internationally recognized Arkansas artist into our permanent collection,” Wintner added. “It also strengthens our commitment to collecting and presenting art that illuminates the cultural history and contemporary experiences of Arkansas and the American South.”