Golden light spilled through the Addison Gallery of American Art’s (the Addison) windows as guests drifted between rooms, their voices mingling with the faint hum of excitement. Beneath the museum’s vaulted ceilings, walls came alive with two strikingly different visions: the dreamlike landscapes of Florida’s coastal marshes and the self-reflective portraits of a contemporary photographer.
On September 20, the Addison welcomed students, faculty, and local visitors to its fall opening reception, unveiling exhibits such as “Making Their Way: The Florida Highwaymen” and “Tommy Kha, Other Things Uttered.” The two exhibitions, which will run, among many others, through early 2026, highlight the gallery’s mission of honoring underrecognized histories while supporting emerging voices in the American art scene.
Angela Parker, an educator for The Addison shared the process of how Tommy Kha, Other Things Uttered was chosen for exhibition as a part of the Bartlett H. Hayes Junior Prize.
“‘Other Things Uttered’ is part of our Bartlett H. Hayes junior prize. We select an artist, like Tommy Kha, who has not had a solo exhibition in a collecting institution, a museum that has its own collection. It’s a way to give them a new platform for their work. Along with that, we publish a book about their exhibition and then one of their artworks becomes part of our permanent collection. Each exhibition has its own unique story,” said Parker.
The reception was noted to have hundreds of attendees, about a third of whom were students. There was plenty of lively conversation and excitement, contrasting the usual serious and quiet atmosphere of a museum. Ophelia Lee ’26 was drawn in by a sign for the Florida Highwaymen.
“I don’t usually visit The Addison unless there’s an exhibit that really catches my interest. When I do make it there, it’s pretty relaxing to just browse and take my mind off school. It makes the overall experience feel calming and a nice break. [But for this reception,] it was definitely more social. I went with my roommate, and we ended up having a 20-minute conversation with the wife of an Andover alum about a painting and life in general. People were eager to talk, and it was pretty crowded, so I’d say it had a dynamic, social vibe,” said Lee ’26.
Parker emphasized the importance of such dialogue, noting how although the exhibitions aren’t bound by a single theme, they force us to reflect on how they are underlyingly interconnected.
“Each season we have an opening to celebrate all of the different exhibitions, so the reception is not necessarily under one specific theme but more so a way to honor each exhibition. But if you think about themes that show up across the different exhibitions this season, they’re all interconnected in several ways, and they can help us think about identity, belonging, and our relationship to nature,” said Parker.
The Addison is holding a collage workshop on October 4 centered around the ideas of family, and on November 1 Tommy Kha will be on campus doing a mask making workshop. For Allison Lee ’28, the reception was a reminder about all of the visual art opportunities on campus.
“Last spring, I went to a Tommy Kha workshop and did some art inspired by his work. It was really cool to see how people you meet one year come back the next, and you can trace this connection to the art and the place. It makes you feel more connected to the campus and its creative community,” said Lee ’28.
The Addison offers more informal ways to make the museum a welcoming space for students, especially during the stressful times of a term. There are also various ways for students to get involved with the Addison.
“Last year, we started offering study hours at the end of each term. We stay open into the evening, offer refreshments, and have peer tutors available in case that’s helpful while students prepare for finals. We’ll be doing that again toward the end of the fall term, so people can look out for that,” said Parker.
She continued, “We have a new role this year, an Addison Scholar. During the Scholar open house, students can learn more about this and other research-based opportunities on campus.”
While visiting alone can be a great way to quietly reflect on the art, Lee ’28 commented on the benefits of visiting the Addison with friends.
“It’s a much better way to experience the art at The Addison than going alone. It can be a lonely experience by yourself, but at the opening, you get to talk with people about the art, like ‘Wow, this is so cool!’ or ‘This piece means something different to me.’ It’s a much more exciting way to engage with what Addison has to offer,” said Lee ‘28.
