Juried Art on Exhibit at the Aiken-Rhett House this November

The Institute of Classical Architecture and Art (ICAA) has teamed up with Historic Charleston Foundation to showcase the talents of young professionals and students in the captivating setting of the Aiken-Rhett House throughout the month of November. This collaboration, part of Enduring Spaces: The ICAA’s National Conference, which will take place in Charleston on November 3-5, 2023, represents a remarkable convergence of craftsmanship, preservation, and sustainability.

Interior, Aiken-Rhett House Museum

During the month of November, HCF and ICAA will host an exhibition of works by young artists and craftspeople. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore a diverse range of works, from intricately designed architectural models to finely detailed sketches, sculptures, and paintings. The exhibition will not only celebrate the artistic prowess of these emerging talents but also shed light on the enduring relevance and timeless appeal of classical art and architecture.

This is not the first exhibit the Aiken-Rhett House Museum has hosted; its preserved-as-found interpretive approach lends a unique canvas that is both inspiring and hauntingly beautiful for many artists that walk the property. In 2020, the Aiken-Rhett House hosted Fletcher Williams’ transformational site-specific installation, Promiseland, and in 2022, both Cookie Washington and Mary Edna Fraser interpreted the spirit of the space in their own mediums.

The Foundation is thrilled to continue to activate this historic space in 2023. The exhibition will showcase remarkable examples of painting, sculpture, ironwork, furniture-making, and other decorative arts, created by students and young professionals. Selected works were chosen by a professional jury including Grahame Long at HCF.