Carnegie Visual Arts Center

What makes a portrait meaningful?

You don't have to know the person in the painting to connect with it. A great portrait captures emotion, personality, and something universal about the human experience.

That is what makes Miriam McClung's work so special. After a lifetime of painting and studying with respected portrait artists, she has created portraits that are both expressive and deeply personal.

"Portrait of an Artist—Miriam McClung" is on view at the Carnegie Visual Arts Center through August 22 and features many works that have never been publicly exhibited.

Join us for the Artist Reception on Friday, July 24, from 6:00–7:30 p.m. Meet Miriam, enjoy light refreshments, and experience this beautiful exhibition.

Carnegie Members: Free
Guests: $5

Join us next Friday for the Artist Reception celebrating, "Portrait of an Artist by Miriam McClung".

Meet Miriam and experience her beautiful collection of expressive portraits while enjoying an evening at the Carnegie Visual Arts Center.

Friday, July 24
6:00–7:30 p.m.

Light appetizers will be served, and a cash bar will be available.

Admission:
Carnegie Members – Free
Guests – $5

We look forward to seeing you for this special evening with the artist.

Saturday Hours Update
Please note that on Saturday, July 18, we will be closed from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM for a special event.
We will reopen from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.

A fun week of Art Camp with these talented kids and their teacher, Autumn Hulsey!

Upcoming Painting Workshops with Jennifer, Susan & Douglas Diehl
Seating is limited so sign up today!
Register online at carnegiearts.org/events

Urban Scenes with Jennifer Diehl
Jul 25–26, 2026
9am-4pm
Have you ever wanted to paint urban scenes, but didn’t know quite where to start? This is the workshop for you! Join us on July 25-26th from 9am-4pm. We’ll go over everything you need to know, including how to capture the images you are looking for, then go back to the studio and put together everything that you’ve learned!

Putting Light into your Landscapes with Douglas Diehl
Aug 14–16, 2026
9am-4pmt
Join artist Douglas Diehl on August 14-16th, from 9am-4pm for a
special painting class focused on capturing light in your landscape paintings. Our sky is an ocean of transmitted light reflections many miles deep, wrapping everything in color. Through this class, you will learn to see the atmospheric effect on the landscape and mix techniques that create luminous colors from your photographic references.

In the Garden with Susan Diehl
Sep 26–27, 2026
9am-4pm
Do you love chasing the fleeting beauty of garden flowers? This painting workshop will be fun and informational! We will be focused on painting garden scenes with an emphasis being on design and color harmony (using student and instructor photographs). Join Susan Diehl for this special class on September 26-27th from 9am-4pm.

Painting Skyscapes with Douglas Diehl
Oct 9–11, 2026
9am-4pm
Get your head in the clouds with Douglas Diehl, as we study the many quiet and dramatic effects in the landscapes of the sky! Join us on on October 9-11th, from 9 am to 4 pm for this special painting class. The emphasis will be on learning the concepts in the studio so that the information can be used wherever and whenever you see a skyscape that you simply MUST capture!

Portrait of an Artist—Miriam McClung |July 7 – August 22
Artist Reception —July 24 | 6-7:30 pm

As we continue our summer kids camps this week, we were inspired to find out more about Miriam McClung, an Alabama artist from the beginning.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1935 , Miriam was fortunate to have parents that encouraged her artistic development from an early age. In Miriam’s own words…

“The city of Birmingham is a constant inspiration in its landscapes and people. I grew up in Birmingham and attended Mt. Brook Elementary. I loved art from a very young age but because the school was new, they didn’t have art classes, so I took art from Louise Cone on Highland Avenue. Louise Cone taught by copying paintings and drawings. The real lesson was her studio filled with all kinds of objects, antiques, and many portraits. All were in a huge room on the third floor of an old house on Highland Avenue. It could have been in New York.”

We are honored to be voted the Best of Bama Art Gallery!

Some artists spend a lifetime perfecting their craft. Miriam McClung spent a lifetime learning from some of the most influential artists of the 20th century.

While studying art, Miriam had the extraordinary opportunity to learn from and meet legendary figures including Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning, Alberto Giacometti, Will Barnet, George Grosz, and even Salvador Dalí. These experiences shaped her artistic vision and laid the foundation for a remarkable career spanning more than seven decades.

Returning home to Alabama, Miriam brought that world-class artistic education with her, creating paintings that are celebrated for their vibrant color, emotional depth, and genuine human connection. Her expressive portraits invite viewers to look beyond the surface and experience the personality, emotion, and story of each subject.

“Portrait of an Artist—Miriam McClung,” is on view July 7–August 22 at the Carnegie Visual Arts Center in Decatur.
The Artist Reception is July 24th, 6-7:30pm.

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the work of an artist whose lifelong pursuit of excellence has touched generations of collectors and art lovers.