USA: Joplin to Host Major Art Exhibitions 2025

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JOPLIN, MO — The George A. Spiva Center for the Arts is set to host two major exhibitions in 2025, marking a milestone for Joplin’s growing cultural landscape. Watercolor USA and Jeffrey C. Legg: Alchemy of Light & Shadow will open in August at the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex, bringing national attention to the city’s arts community.

The events will begin on Friday, August 22, 2025, with a VIP reception for Jeff Legg’s solo exhibition, followed by a joint reception and awards presentation for Watercolor USA. The public exhibitions open on August 23, with Watercolor USA running through October 11 and Alchemy of Light & Shadow continuing until October 25.

Spiva’s executive director, Heather Lesmeister, said the exhibitions reflect the center’s mission to bring world-class art to the region. “Spiva is honored to host Watercolor USA and to welcome Jeffrey C. Legg back to his hometown with such a personal and profound exhibition,” she stated.

Watercolor USA Moves to Joplin for the First Time

Founded in 1962, Watercolor USA has long been recognized as the country’s leading national exhibition of water media painting. Traditionally hosted by the Springfield Art Museum, the exhibition will move to Joplin for the first time in its history due to construction in Springfield.

The 2025 exhibition was juried by Paul Jackson, a highly respected watercolorist and member of the American and National Watercolor Societies. Sponsored by Arvest Bank and Davis CPA Group, LLC, the exhibition will showcase works by top artists from across the nation. Springfield Art Museum director Nick Nelson noted that Spiva was the ideal partner to continue the tradition during the museum’s closure.

Jeffrey C. Legg Returns Home

Running concurrently, Jeffrey C. Legg: Alchemy of Light & Shadow will highlight the achievements of Joplin native Jeffrey C. Legg, an award-winning oil painter known for his dramatic still lifes. Legg, a Master Signature Member of the Oil Painters of America, has exhibited in leading museums and received international recognition for his work.

Legg’s paintings are celebrated for their interplay of light and shadow, blending technical mastery with emotional depth. His art is held in prestigious collections worldwide, including that of astronaut Neil Armstrong, and one of his works will even be part of a digital time capsule scheduled to land on the Moon in late 2025.

The exhibition is supported by longtime Joplin arts patrons Sharon and Lance Beshore, who played a key role in establishing the Cornell Complex.

With these dual exhibitions, Joplin is poised to become a focal point for American art in 2025, attracting visitors, collectors, and cultural recognition to the region.