Looking Back Hurricane Katrina at 20

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina brought devastating winds, rainfall and storm surge to South Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In New Orleans, the storm surge overwhelmed the Federal Levee System, flooding over 80% of the city. On the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the storm’s powerful winds and massive surge obliterated the built and modified environments of coastal communities. Twenty years later, Hurricane Katrina remains one of the most catastrophic disasters in U.S. history. It is estimated that over 1,300 lives were lost, and that damages totaled more that $125 billion. Entire communities were forever changed, if not completely lost.

Hurricane Katrina had a profound and lasting impact on coastal communities, stretching far beyond the immediate aftermath of the storm. The storm’s lasting damage included significant coastal erosion, ecological habitat destruction and widespread contamination of land and water. Additionally, the storm led to major population displacement, economic hardship and long-term health consequences, including mental health issues. Recovery has been steady, and in many cases very successful. Yet looking back, there is no denying that Hurricane Katrina transormed this place in ways we are still struggling to understand.

To mark the 20th anniversary of this historic event, Ogden Museum of Southern Art presents the work of six artists that directly address the storm, its devastation and the resiliency of the people impacted. Through their practice, these artists bore witness to both the physical and psychological damage wrought by the storm. They crafted complex narratives, built monuments to resiliency and offered prayers for recovery.  Through their work, they attempted to process this event, and as a result offer that same opportunity for healing to the viewer.

Bradley Sumrall
Curator of the Collection, Ogden Museum of Southern Art