Son at 100 and Highway 61 Revisited

 

September 10 – October 10, 2026
Roger D. Malkin Gallery | E.E. Bass Cultural Arts Center

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The Greenville Arts Council is proud to present Son at 100 and Highway 61 Revisited, a special exhibition celebrating the life, art, music, and lasting legacy of Mississippi Delta bluesman and artist James “Son” Thomas.

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Born in 1926, Thomas became known around the world for his distinctive Delta blues sound, but his creativity extended far beyond music. He was also a visual artist, creating drawings and paintings as well as expressive clay sculptures that became an important part of his artistic legacy.

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Son at 100 offers visitors a closer look at the many sides of Thomas’s creative life through a collection of his artwork, clay sculptures, personal artifacts, photographs, and other pieces connected to his story and legacy in the Mississippi Delta.

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Presented alongside the exhibition is Highway 61 Revisited, featuring photographs from the Billy Johnson collection. Through images of the people, places, musicians, and everyday life of the region, the collection offers another look at the culture and landscape of the Mississippi Delta that shaped artists like Thomas.

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Together, Son at 100 and Highway 61 Revisited celebrate the creativity, stories, and people of the Delta, and the artistic legacy that continues to grow from this place.

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Opening Reception

Join us Thursday, September 17, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. for the opening reception in the Roger D. Malkin Gallery at the E.E. Bass Cultural Arts Center, 323 S. Main Street, Greenville, Mississippi.