Keith Duncan: Battle of the Bands, The HBCU Marching Band Series is organized by the Ogden Museum of Southern Art (Logo)
Generous support provided by Art Bridges.
Dover, DE – This fall, the Biggs Museum of American Art will pulse with rhythm, energy, and cultural pride as it presents Keith Duncan: Battle of the Bands, The HBCU Marching Bands Series, on view from September 4, 2025, through January 25, 2026. This powerful exhibition of 45 dynamic mixed-media works by New Orleans-based artist Keith Duncan celebrates the enduring tradition of Historically Black College and University (HBCU) marching bands—institutions known not only for their musical excellence, but also for their role in shaping community and identity.
The exhibition arrives in Dover through the support of Art Bridges, a national arts foundation that partners with museums to provide strategic and financial support to get American art out of storage and into communities nationwide. Their loan of Battle of the Bands, organized by the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, makes it possible for regional audiences to engage with a major contemporary body of work that might otherwise remain out of reach.
“Having a nationally ranked HBCU right here in our hometown, we felt there was no better place to celebrate the rich cultural heritage and significance of HBCU marching bands than at The Biggs,” said Hassan Najjar, Executive Director of Biggs Museum of American Art.
Each of Duncan’s large-scale fabric paintings and smaller works on paper captures the movement, pageantry, and storytelling power of fifteen Southern HBCU marching bands and their iconic drum majors. His layered compositions—incorporating textiles, collage, and vibrant color—are rooted in African and Southern traditions while drawing inspiration from artists such as Faith Ringgold and Mickalene Thomas. At once celebratory and reflective, the works highlight both personal narrative and shared cultural history.
Originally curated by Bradley Sumrall, Curator of the Collection at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, this traveling exhibition brings a nationally significant artist’s voice to Dover at a time when stories of Black excellence and community celebration are more important than ever.
This presentation of Battle of the Bands at The Biggs is made possible through generous support from Art Bridges, as well as the Choptank Foundation, the Delaware Division of the Arts, and Delaware State University—whose own contributions to HBCU band culture are further celebrated in the museum’s complementary exhibition, Echoes of the Storm.
Opening Reception
Join us on Thursday, September 11, from 5:30–7:30 PM for an exclusive members-only Opening Reception celebrating this extraordinary exhibition. Enjoy light refreshments, live music, and a first look at the artwork. Not a member? Explore membership options, including our free Explorer level, at www.thebiggsmuseum.org.
About the Biggs Museum of American Art
Biggs Museum of American Art, located in the heart of downtown Dover, Delaware, transforms the community through the art of our region. Featuring American fine and decorative arts from the 18th century to today, the museum offers rotating exhibitions, educational programs, and community events that connect audiences to creativity and culture. As a welcoming hub for discovery and collaboration, The Biggs champions the arts as essential to civic well-being. The museum is located at 406 Federal St., Dover DE. Hours of operation: Thursday – Sunday from 11 AM – 5 PM.
Learn more at www.thebiggsmuseum.org.
About Art Bridges Foundation
Art Bridges Foundation is the vision of philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton. Founded in 2017, Art Bridges creates and supports projects that share works of American art with communities across the United States and its territories. Art Bridges partners with a growing network of over 250 museums of all sizes—impacting more than 20 million people nationwide—to provide financial and strategic support for exhibitions, collection loans, and programs designed to educate, inspire, and deepen engagement with local communities. The Art Bridges Collection represents an expanding vision of American art from the 19th century to present day and encompasses multiple media and voices. For more information, visit artbridgesfoundation.org.
