PATH Museum Exhibition Opening - Hold the Line

From the venue:

The PATH Museum in Buckhead is proud to present Hold the Line, Volume III: Ode to Black Women, opening Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 7:00 PM. Curated by Ralph “rEN” Dillard and Brian Hebert, this groundbreaking exhibition showcases the work of 50 African American male artists who pay tribute to the power, beauty, and resilience of Black women.

Taking inspiration from the military strategy of “holding the line”—standing firm against opposition—the exhibition reimagines the concept as a cultural stance: Black men uniting in solidarity to celebrate the women who have long carried families, communities, and traditions forward. Through painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media, the artists weave together deeply personal and collective stories that center Black women as nurturers, leaders, visionaries, and cultural anchors.

Hold the Line,Volume III expands the series’ legacy of dialogue and reverence, offering a space where vulnerability, love, and respect converge. The theme, Ode to Black Women, pushes against societal marginalization while dismantling stereotypes of masculinity, creating a platform where the contributions of Black women are uplifted with honesty and grace.

“Black women have always held the line for us. This exhibition is our way of standing shoulder to shoulder in gratitude, telling the world that we see, honor, and revere their strength and brilliance,” says co-curator Ralph “rEN” Dillard. “This exhibition is about reflection and recognition. By bringing together fifty Black male artists, we’re not just showcasing art— we’re making a statement of gratitude. Black women have been the backbone of our communities, and through this work we honor their strength, creativity, and unwavering love. This is more than an exhibition; it’s a living tribute,” adds co-curator Brian Hebert.

The exhibition features a powerhouse roster of artists, including Jim Alexander, Miya Bailey, Charly Palmer, Alfred Conteh, Dr. Fahamu Pecou, Gilbert Young, Frank Morrison, Kevin “Wak” Williams, and many more—bringing together both established masters and rising voices in contemporary Black art. 

Other Exhibits at the Path

NEOTERIC ARTIFACTS

The Path Museum is thrilled to announce Neoteric Artifacts, a captivating ceramics and sculpture exhibition curated by CRLZ, opening on October 11th and running through November 25th, 2024. This unique showcase will spotlight the exceptional talents of sculptors and ceramicists based in Atlanta, Georgia, offering an extraordinary journey of discovery for art enthusiasts and collectors alike.

The exhibition will feature works from an array of eight distinguished local artists, each contributing their own perspective to the evolving conversation about form, material, and artistic expression. From abstract forms to finely detailed pieces, the artworks in Neoteric Artifacts explore the intersection of tradition and modernity, showcasing the rich artistic landscape in Atlanta.

exhibit page

O.M. Norling

Jay Wilson paints under the pen-name O.M. Norling, a moniker borrowed from his great-great grandfather.

Jay was born in 1971. He’s the youngest of three brothers and son to a career army father and mother who put up with it all. Growing up, Jay found himself frequently adjusting to new surroundings. Six formative years of living and attending school in Germany and South Korea exposed Jay to European and Asian cultures. This mixture of influences and experiences is apparent in his works.

Recent venues include The Solarium in Decatur, GA (2018 & 2023), Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, GA (2020) as part of the ‘Once Upon a Story’ exhibit and The Bascom in Highlands, NC (2019).

Jay lives in Decatur, Georgia with his wife Amy and their three boys in a small house under the memory of a big tree.

ARTIST STATEMENT

In 1843, a young man disappeared without a trace from a modest family farm in Sweden. Seven years later, his mother received a letter postmarked from America. It was from her son, O.M. Norling. He explained that a compulsion to experience this faraway land had driven him to leave behind all that he knew.

The young man is my great-great grandfather. To put so much on the line to obey a compulsion… the audacity of this story was unnerving to me as a younger man. But now, with more years behind me, the sheer volume of life force it represents captivates and motivates me as an artist. For over a decade, I’ve signed my paintings, O.M. Norling.

With pencil, brush and oil paint, I construct eccentric compositions made up of animals, objects and furniture that all echo another time. They are beautiful, dark and humorous stories about the human experience.

exhibit page