Ocean Springs offers visitors an array of naturalistic art depicting the harmony between this enchanting town and its natural surroundings. Local artists, including the late American master Walter Anderson, have long shared a passion for the serenity and beauty of our Gulf Coast and a desire to illustrate its importance to this area.
Walter Anderson Museum
Walter Inglis Anderson spent his life drawing, sketching, and painting the plants, animals, and people of the Gulf Coast. His work can be best enjoyed with a visit to the Walter Anderson Museum of Art (WAMA) which is dedicated to the preservation of his works and is just down the road from The Roost. A visit to the Walter Anderson Museum of Art is an enchanting and unique experience. During a visit to the museum, visitors are offered insight into the artistic vision of Walter as well as his process and the natural environment that inspired him. The museum also strives to preserve and educate the public on the work of Walter’s brothers: Peter Anderson (1901-1984), master potter and founder of Shearwater Pottery; and James McConnell Anderson (1907-1998), noted painter and ceramist.
The Little Room
“The Little Room served as Walter Anderson’s sanctuary on the mainland during the latter years of his life. When he could, Anderson would spend his time on Horn Island, but he still had obligations on the mainland. To mentally transport himself to Horn Island, Walter Anderson painted the Little Room to portray a day on the island.” -WAMA
Shearwater Pottery
Shearwater Pottery was founded in 1928 by Peter Anderson with the support of his parents, George Walter Anderson and Annette McConnell Anderson. From the 1920s through the present day, Shearwater Pottery has produced art pottery, utilitarian ware, figurines, decorative tiles and other pottery pieces. Shearwater Pottery is high-grade hard fired earthenware intended for functional as well as decorative use. Each piece is individual and unique in nature.
To fully grasp the vibrant artistic community, we highly recommend being in town for the Peter Anderson Festival, THE fall festival in downtown Ocean Springs. This weekend-long fine arts fest is named after the late potter who founded Shearwater Pottery in 1928. Last year’s 41st Peter Anderson Fest had over 500 vendors with everything from fine jewelry, hand carved wood sculpture, abstract art, gorgeous pottery, and more!
Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art
Another popular art museum experience is can be found at the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art. Designed by Frank O. Gehry, the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art Campus is home to a remarkable blend of architectural styles which span over a century of history. Located under majestic oaks on the beautiful Mississippi Sound, OOMA features the ceramics of George E. Ohr (1857-1918), the self-proclaimed "Mad Potter of Biloxi,” as well as contemporary and historic exhibitions.
The museum also offers ceramic classes and open studio time as well as popular “Date Night” classes for you to take with that special someone! Check out their calendar, here, for an up to date list of of offerings.*
*Note, due to COVID-19, their classes have been suspended for the time being.
Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum
In what was previously the “Seafood Capital of the World,” there is no better way to experience the 300 years of seafood industry that found its home on the Mississippi Gulf Coast than a tour through the Maritime & Seafood Museum. Explore a massive array of exhibits on shrimping, oystering, recreational fishing, wetlands, managing marine resources, charter boats, marine blacksmithing, wooden boat building, netmaking, catboats/Biloxi skiff, shrimp peeling machine and numerous historic photographs and objects.
Afterwards, we recommend climbing aboard the Biloxi Schooner, an authentic replica of a Biloxi Oyster Schooner, for a truly unique look at the Mississippi Gulf Coast waters. For current sailing times, click here.
Ocean Springs, Biloxi, Gulfport, and all of the other cities that make up the Mississippi Gulf Coast are vibrant and worth exploring, you never know what you might find.