Hickory Museum of Art, Hickory

Hickory Museum of Art (HMA) is an art museum in Hickory, North Carolina that holds exhibitions, events, and public educational programs based on a permanent collection of 19th through 21st century American art. The museum also features a long-term exhibition of Southern contemporary folk art, showcasing the work of self-taught artists from around the region. North Carolina's second oldest museum, Hickory Museum of Art was established in 1944 when visionary founding Director, Paul Whitener, declared, “I am going to make Hickory, North Carolina an art center.” From that moment forward, the museum has left an indelible imprint on the Western Piedmont region by presenting a long history of exhibitions and programs that bring diverse groups of people together to learn about creativity. An accomplished landscape artist in his own right, Whitener fostered relationships with the National Academy of Design, which brought the very best in American art to his hometown.