The Reece Museum presents An Exuberant Spirit: The Sammie L. Nicely Collection, on display through October 13 and features eighty-one of the 130+ piece collection.

Samuel Louis Nicely (1947 - 2015) was an artist and educator who embraced his cultural heritage as an African American man from Appalachia. Born in Russellville, Tennessee, he developed a love for the arts at an early age and went on to earn a B.S. in art education from Middle Tennessee State University and to study at The Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg. Nicely cofounded the From Africa to Appalachia Foundation and was the Artist in Residence at the Reece Museum in 2014. In 2020, fifty works from Nicely's personal collection (seen in the virtual catalogue) were bequeathed to the Reece Museum. These works represent Sammie Nicely's vision as a collector and artist, and form the foundation of this new Special Collection.

The Reece Museum will be open to the public on the first Saturday of the month from 10am to 3pm, February through May, in addition to its regular hours. Join us on Saturday, May 6 to view An Exuberant Spirit.