A century after an Atlanta woman donated her home to bring art to the city, the High Museum of Art celebrated its 100th anniversary by turning Peachtree Street into a gathering place for music, art and community.
The free Centennial Block Party on Oct. 18 brought visitors to Midtown for live performances, interactive art activities and remarks from Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, museum Director Rand Suffolk and museum Board Member Killer Mike. The celebration honored the institution’s evolution from a modest beginning in 1926 into a major cultural institution serving Atlanta and the Southeast.
In October 1926, Hattie High donated her residence on Peachtree Street to the city, establishing the museum’s first permanent home. The High Museum and the School of Art opened in the former residence, building on the work of the Atlanta Art Association, which began in 1905.
The museum eventually outgrew its original home. In 1983, it moved into a standalone building designed by architect Richard Meier. A 2005 expansion by architect Renzo Piano significantly increased the museum’s scale, Suffolk explained in an interview.
Today, the High houses a collection of more than 20,000 works and hosts exhibitions, educational programs and community events.
“It’s been a century in the making,” Suffolk told attendees, thanking the community, members, staff and presenting Centennial sponsor Invesco for helping the museum reach the milestone.
Dickens recalled visiting the High as a child on a school field trip, praising its educational programs and role in bringing Atlantans together.
“At a time like this, when it can feel like forces are pulling us all apart, the High Museum is still a place for us to gather together,” Dickens said.
He highlighted how the museum connects people across neighborhoods and generations, encouraging visitors to consider perspectives beyond their own.
“A great city needs to have a great art museum,” Dickens said, reflecting on Hattie High’s original donation.
He also pointed to the museum’s growth alongside Atlanta, congratulating the institution on its century of contributions to the city’s cultural life.
“Today’s celebration is a reminder to all of us to keep investing in our shared future,” Dickens said.
The block party brought that vision onto Peachtree Street, which was closed between 15th and 16th streets for the festivities. The program included sets from DJs XZACT and DJ LV, a performance by The Biological Misfits and a dance party featuring DJs Kemit and Salah Ananse.
Visitors could also watch a performance by an Atlanta Symphony Orchestra string quartet, meet the Atlanta Hawks mascot, Harry the Hawk, take pictures with the pink car from Atlanta’s Trap Museum and participate in children’s art-making activities. The Atlanta Hawks Drumline helped kick off the official welcome.
For Adriane Jefferson, executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, the celebration demonstrated how the museum’s influence extends beyond its walls.
“I think this is a beautiful way to honor how unique they are and the way that they are reaching Atlanta’s in an organic way,” Jefferson said, referring to the city’s communities and the museum’s approach to engaging them.
She also praised the High for featuring Atlanta artists in its exhibitions, describing local representation as an important distinction for an institution of its stature.
“I don’t know too many museums that are this caliber that do that,” Jefferson said, highlighting the museum’s efforts to ensure Atlanta is represented in its galleries.
That connection between international recognition and local engagement has also shaped the museum’s recent development. Suffolk described how membership has grown from about 25,000 households to nearly 50,000. The museum has also worked to reduce economic barriers through free admission days and expand representation in its exhibition schedule.
Over the past decade, 72% of its exhibitions have highlighted or focused on work by women artists, artists of color or LGBTQ+ artists, according to Suffolk.
Looking ahead, the museum plans to continue aligning its programming with the needs and interests of its community as those needs evolve.
A century after Hattie High’s donation helped establish Atlanta’s art museum, the anniversary celebration brought that legacy back to the street where it began, with the city itself at the center.
