The Chrysler Museum of Art unveils a dazzling new exhibition, Joyce J. Scott: Messages

NORFOLK, Va., June 5, 2024 – The Chrysler Museum of Art is delighted to announce the captivating exhibition Joyce J. Scott: Messages—featuring the intricate beadwork of renowned artist and activist Joyce Scott—will be on view in the Glass Project Space at the Museum, One Memorial Pl, Norfolk from February 6 to August 17, 2025. 

Scott has elevated beadwork as a relevant contemporary art form for over three decades. Known for her off-loom, hand-threaded glass beads, Scott creates striking figurative sculptures, wall hangings, and jewelry informed by her African American ancestry, the craft traditions of her family (including her mother, renowned quilter Elizabeth T. Scott), and traditional Native American techniques such as the peyote stitch. Each object Scott creates is a unique, vibrant, and challenging work of art developed with imagination, wit, and sly humor. 

Joyce J. Scott (American, born 1948), ‘War, What is it Good For, Absolutely Nothin, Say it Again,’ 2022, Peyote stitch, glass beads, thread
Neckpiece shown on model Aisha Butler, Courtesy of Mobilia Gallery
Image credit: © Jeff Butler

Scott’s illustrious career has seen her wear many hats: quilter, performance artist, printmaker, sculptor, singer, teacher, textile artist, recording artist, painter, writer, installation artist, and bead artist. However, she has garnered particular acclaim for her technical skills in beading and her contributions to the transformation of this medium. 

”We are thrilled to host this focused traveling exhibition here in Norfolk at the very moment when Scott’s brilliant career is being recognized more widely, through a retrospective of her work that is co-organized by the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Seattle Museum of Art,” says Carolyn Swan Needell, the Chrysler Museum’s Barry Curator of Glass.  

Joyce J. Scott: Messages features thirty-four remarkable beaded works of art spanning Scott’s career, each expressing contemporary issues and concepts. Highlighted in the exhibition is Scott’s recent beaded neckpiece, War, What is it Good For, Absolutely Nothin’, Say it Again (2022). A technical feat in peyote stitch, infused with color and texture, this multilayered and intricate beadwork comments on violence in America. Scott’s subject matter, whether social or political, reflects the artist’s own narrative of what it means to be Black in America. Meticulously hand-wrought, Joyce J. Scott’s works embody the messages she hopes to impress upon her viewers. 

This exhibition is organized by Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, MA.  

EXHIBITION PROGRAMMING

TEACHER WORKSHOP: STORYTELLING IN BEADWORK
Thursday, February 6, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Kicking off the first day of the exhibition, educators will learn about Baltimore-based artist Joyce Scott, unpack the layers of her work during a gallery discussion, and then try using bead looms. Refreshments provided.
$10 per person. Registration required. 

SECOND SATURDAY ART POP-UP
Saturday, February 8, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Whether you are a master of stick figures or an accomplished virtuoso, all visitors can explore artmaking at this series of monthly pop-up workshops. In February, visitors will experiment with beads, fibers, and stitching inspired by the exhibition Joyce J. Scott: Messages.
Free. Registration required. This program is funded with support from the Art Bridges Foundation.

WEARABLE ART STUDIO CLASS
Three Sessions: Saturdays, February 15, 22, and March 1, from 10 a.m.–noon
Led by local artist Lisa Beckman, this three-session class invites visitors to explore the intersection of fashion and art, where they’ll learn to use metalworking to design and create one-of-a-kind wearable pieces. Ages 12+.
$75 for Museum members, $90 for non-members. Registration required.

GLASS AFTER DARK
Thursday, March 20, 2025, 7–10 p.m.
Watch the Perry Glass Studio team take the molten material to exciting places with help from artist Joyce Scott. Cash bar. Live music.
$10 for Museum members, $20 for non-members. Registration required.
Doors open at 7 p.m. The event begins at 8 p.m.

JOYCE SCOTT: BEAD EXPLORATION
Saturday, March 22 from 10 a.m.–noon
Scott kicks off this immersive workshop by discussing the intricate details of beads, color theory, and innovative design strategies that have defined her illustrious career. Then, participants will make beads at the new Perry Glass Studio. Ages 12+
$45 for Museum members, $60 for non-members. Registration required.

CREATIVE MINDS: JOYCE J. SCOTT MESSAGES
Sunday, March 23, 2–3 p.m.
Presented by the one and only Joyce Scott, this talk is certain to be as unique as the artist herself. Scott is a prominent and prolific sculptor, quilter, printmaker, installation, and performing artist. Her creativity knows no bounds, and she will talk about the powerful ideas that fuel her.
$10 for Museum members, $20 for non-members. Registration required.

ABOUT THE CHRYSLER MUSEUM OF ART 

The Chrysler Museum of Art brings art and people together through experiences that delight, inform, and inspire. Internationally recognized for its collection of more than 30,000 objects, including one the largest glass collections in America, the Museum also includes free admission, the state-of-the-art Perry Glass Studio, a full-service restaurant, shop, theater, works on paper space, and oversees the historic Myers House. The Museum boasts an ambitious schedule of exhibitions, events, and programs, and has been nationally recognized for its commitment to inclusion through its innovative gallery host program. For more information, visit chrysler.org. Follow on social media @ChryslerMuseum to receive the latest updates. 

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For more information or interview assistance, please contact Tanya Kaish Keller, Public Relations Advisor, at Qantm Creative at tanya@qantmcreative.com.

High-resolution images and credits are available. Permission and credit are required for the use of all images, print or digital. Cropping may not be permitted on some images; see caption sheet if applicable.