Acclaimed local artists explore the meaning of home in new exhibition at the Huntsville Museum of Art

For Huntsville artist John “Jahni” Moore, Coming Home represents more than a new exhibition.

Although his artwork has been displayed around the world, the exhibition marks the first time his work has been featured in a museum in his hometown.

“This is an honor because although I’ve had the opportunity to show around the world, this is my first show at a museum in my home city,” Moore said.

Moore joined fellow artists LeXander Bryant and Toyin Ojih Odutola on the evening of Thursday, July 9, for “An Inspiring Conversation with Michael Ewing, Frist Art Museum Associate Curator and the Artists” at the Huntsville Museum of Art. 

The panel took attendees on a journey through Coming Home, the museum’s newest exhibition. The collection of artwork examines the evolving meaning of home through the artists’ personal experiences and creative work. The discussion was moderated by Michael Ewing, associate curator at the Frist Art Museum.

At the start of the evening, Ewing said he hoped the discussion would offer attendees a meaningful perspective on the exhibition.

“The hope today, the intention I want to place here, is that…we will come together and find a conversation that will be edifying to everyone in the audience,” Ewing said. 

Throughout the discussion, the artists shared how their experiences in Alabama continue to influence their work, emphasizing that home is defined not only by place but also by objects, relationships, memory, identity, connection, and imagination.

Moore discussed incorporating Alabama red clay into many of his pieces, collecting it from meaningful locations throughout North Alabama.

“When I’m painting with the red clay, I feel as though I’m painting with a living substance. So in all of my work, all of my canvas work, a lot of my work on paper, red clay is there, not always visible, but it’s like a program running in the background,” Moore said.

Bryant, an Alabama-born photographer and visual artist based in Nashville, said the experiences of growing up in the South remain central to his storytelling.

“I think the most important thing for me is this: to still be grounded in my upbringing and my Southern experience because that’s where most of the storytelling in my work comes from,” Bryant said. 

Although he has traveled extensively, Bryant said Alabama continues to influence both his work and his perspective.

“I’ve traveled all over the world, but it’s nothing that can change my mind about how I feel about growing up in the South, growing up in Alabama, these country dirt roads, like these little Piggly Wiggly stores,” Bryant said.

Bryant also reflected on Huntsville’s growth while emphasizing the importance of preserving the memories that define a place.

“I lived in Huntsville when Madison Square Mall was still here. Even Huntsville has changed a lot as far as becoming almost like a smart city. But it’s about holding onto those moments that truly make up the identity of the city, the identity of the small town, the identity of the state and the identity of the region,” Bryant shared. 

Ojih Odutola, who was born in Nigeria and raised in Huntsville, said moving frequently as a child shaped her understanding of home. 

Although Odutola initially struggled after her family relocated to Alabama, she said her appreciation for the state grew, and she came to recognize its rich history and cultural significance.

“I started to get much more comfortable, but Alabama is such a sacred site. It’s indigenous land. There’s so much history in the state, and it’s beautiful. It’s rich,” Odutola said. 

When discussing the loss of her native tongue after moving to Alabama, she said her work seeks to foster inclusion rather than focus on what has been lost.

“It’s not about taking anything away. It’s about adding on and including. People just want to feel like they’re included and they can participate. If you can impart that in your work, then it’s there. There’s no loss,” Odutola said.

Coming Home opened on July 4, 2026, and will remain on display at the museum until Jan. 3, 2027. The exhibition features paintings, photographs, drawings, and mixed-media works.