Always Something New to Discover
In addition to our permanent history gallery, the Coastal Discovery Museum hosts between 6 and 8 temporary exhibitions throughout the year in the Discovery House Gallery. With a focus on art, history, and the environment, our exhibitions may introduce you to intriguing aspects of Hilton Head Island's people and events or explore broader themes of environmental stewardship and cultural heritage.
In conjunction with our exhibitions, there are often demonstrations, talks, and workshops scheduled during the year with our artists and curators. For our younger visitors, exhibitions may feature scavenger hunts or other activities. From formal lectures to participatory learning, there’s something for everyone!
CURRENT EXHIBITS
Art Quilters of the Lowcountry: in the Main Gallery Conceptual Threads
May 13 – July 26, 2026
Conceptual Threads features 60+ works by the Art Quilters of the Lowcountry, four award-winning fiber artists and their invited guest artists. Join us for an opening reception on Thursday, May 14, from 5 to 7 pm.
Free gallery walks with the artists at 10:30 am on the following dates:
- Ron Hodge – Wednesday, May 20
- Peg Weschke – Wednesday, June 17
- Jody Wigton – Tuesday, June 23
- Ro Morrissey – Wednesday, July 8
Fiber Art Workshop on Tuesday, June 23, 12-3 pm. $35 per person and reservations are required.
Thursday, October 17, 5 – 7 pm Guest Curator’s Tour at 4 pm
Free and open to the public
Gallery Tours
- Thursday, December 5 – 1 pm
- Saturday, January 25 – 11 am
- Tuesday, February 25 – 1 pm Free and open to the public
Tuesday, February 11, 5 to 7 pm, in the Sea Island Room
PBS documentary "Aldwyth: Fully Assembled," with director Olympia Stone.
Popcorn and refreshments at 5 pm, screening at 5:30 pm.
$10 per person. Registration Required. Free to museum members.
Mon-Sat: 9 am to 4:30 pm
Sunday: 11 am to 4:30 pm
This is Not:
Aldwyth in Retrospect
October 16, 2024 - March 23, 2025
The Coastal Discovery Museum is proud to present an exhibition of the rarely seen works of Hilton Head-based artist known as Aldwyth, from October 16 to March 23, 2025.
This is Not: Aldwyth in Retrospect spans nearly 70 years of her work, ranging from photography, painting, fiber, as well as her later bricolages and epic-scaled collages.
“We are thrilled to present the works of Aldwyth, one of SC’s most important living artists,” said Elizabeth Greenberg, Director of Exhibitions. “Aldwyth’s unique, often sly perspective on the art world, culture, and history is reflected in works that are at once bold and meticulous, transcending categories.”
PAST EXHIBITS
Field Trip:
Camera Club of Hilton Head Island Main Gallery in the Museum
May 13 - July 7, 2024
Free admission
This photography exhibit showcases images of natural and historic sites by Camera Club members on their various field trips throughout the region. Highlighting the talent of emerging photographers, the exhibit also features exceptional works by students from Hilton Head Island High School's visual arts photography courses.
The public is invited to attend talks by Camera Club members, in the gallery at 2 pm, on May 16th & 29th; and June 12th & 22nd. Admission to the talks is free, and no pre-registration is required.
It's Thursday! Artists of the Round Table
November 12 to March 23, 2026
Artists of the Round Table celebrates 15 prominent Hilton Head artists who gathered weekly at The Red Piano Gallery from the 1970s through 1994 to share ideas and projects that nurtured the island’s growing art community.
Watch the video from the November 13 opening reception, featuring artists Aldwyth, Louanne LaRoche, friends, family, and jazz pianist Lavon Stevens at the original red piano. Scroll down to see photos.
The Artists of the Round Table include Aldwyth, Ralph Ballantine, Joe Bowler, Danielle DeMers, Joe DeMers, Ray Ellis, Elizabeth Grant, Walter Greer, Tua Hayes, Katy Hodgman, Louanne LaRoche, Allen Palmer, Marge Parker, George Plante, and Coby Whitmore.
Opening-reception photos from "It's Thursday! Artists of the Round Table."
5th Annual: Beaufort County High School Regional Art Exhibition
April 1–May 5, 2026
More than 100 works by Beaufort County high school students are on view in this juried exhibition in the museum’s main gallery.
Join us for an opening reception on April 9 from 5–7 pm, with awards presented at 6 pm. Admission is free.
Nikon's Small World: Photo Competition
Sea Island Room
March 13 - May 17, 2026
Captured by a light microscope, the 20 prize-winning images on display are part of Nikon’s annual photomicrography competition.
"These images explore the creative interconnection between art and science," said Elizabeth Greenberg, Director of Exhibitions at the Coastal Discovery Museum. "They are not only extraordinary by revealing a world that is invisible to the naked eye, they also demonstrate the power of photomicrography to advance scientific and medical research.”
Four Sketchbooks a Year: Celebrating 25 Years of the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts & Humanities
Through January 4, 2026
Reception: Wednesday, December 10, 5-7 pm
Free and open to the public
“Four Sketchbooks a Year" is a showcase of visual arts by Beaufort County alumni of the SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities. On view in the Sea Island Room through January 4, 2026.
Participating artists include: Emma Barnes (class of 2010), Alex Coley (class of 2024), Amelie Davis (class of 2025), Evan Ford (class of 2024), Alex Gentemann (class of 2021), Colleen Gleason (class of 2001), Nathaniel Greenberg (class of 2025), Kevin Hopkins (class of 2018), Tori Lusik (class of 2014), Luis Paredes (class of 2026), Jack Perry (class of 2007), Olivia Ruxton (class of 2005), Jessie Peterson Tarazi (class of 2002), and Wylder Voegele (class of 2020).
Gullah Celebration at 30: Posters from the Archive
Through March 8, 2026
Reception: Thursday, February 5, 5 to 7 pm
Free and open to the public
“Gullah Celebration at 30: Posters from the Archive” is a collaboration between the Coastal Discovery Museum and the Native Island Business and Community Affairs Association (NIBCAA).
The exhibition, on view in the Sea Island Room through March 8, is part of the 2026 Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration, a month-long series of events that showcases and honors the cultural heritage of the Gullah Geechee community.
Marking the festival’s 30 th anniversary, the exhibit features more than 20 posters commissioned for the event, including the first poster by Joe Pinckney and this year’s by Amiri Farris.
Deliberately Unpredictable: Exhibition by the Art Beyond Tradition Group
August 25 - November 4, 2025
The Art Beyond Tradition Group presents a new exhibition in our gallery from August 25 through November 4. This biennial show features 12 Lowcountry abstract artists working in various media, including painting, collage, encaustic, sculpture, mixed media, and ink. Admission is free.
Participating artists include: Cindy Chiappetta, Arla Wible, Vickie Jourdan, Sharon Licata, Mark Larkin, Margaret Crawford, Jo Dye, Earline Allen, Donna Varner, Joanna Chalson, John Crum, and Linda Tully.
Gallery Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 4:30 pm; Sunday, 11 am to 4:30 pm.
Reception:
September 11, 5 – 7 pm.
Gallery tour with the artists: September 25, 11 am.
Free and open to the public.
3rd Annual: Beaufort County High School Regional Art Exhibition
Main Gallery in the Museum
April 1 - May 7, 2024
"This year’s exhibition is exceptionally strong across the board – from painting and drawing to photography, ceramics, mixed media and digital art,” said Elizabeth Greenberg, Director of Exhibitions. “It’s gratifying to see how the visual arts are thriving in Beaufort County schools.”
Jurors Lisa D. Watson, Savannah-based artist, and Angela Dore, Executive Director of the Freedman Arts District in Beaufort, SC, selected the 100 works from 200 entries.
Nikon’s Small World: Photo Competition Exhibit
Sea Island Gallery in the Museum
March 15 - May 5, 2024
“Visitors to the exhibit will see stunning images that reveal a world hidden to the naked eye,” said Elizabeth Greenberg, Director of Exhibitions at the Coastal Discovery Museum. “Beyond their visual impact, these photos that celebrate the intersection of science and art can also contribute to advances in medical and life sciences.” Captured by a light microscope, the 20 prize-winning images on display are part of Nikon’s annual photomicrography competition. Each year, the Small World exhibit travels throughout North America to selected museums and science centers.
This is Not: Aldwyth in Retrospect
October 16, 2024 - March 23, 2025
The Coastal Discovery Museum is proud to present an exhibition of the rarely seen works of Hilton Head-based artist known as Aldwyth, from October 16 to March 23, 2025.
This is Not: Aldwyth in Retrospect spans nearly 70 years of her work, ranging from photography, painting, fiber, as well as her later bricolages and epic-scaled collages.
“We are thrilled to present the works of Aldwyth, one of SC’s most important living artists,” said Elizabeth Greenberg, Director of Exhibitions. “Aldwyth’s unique, often sly perspective on the art world, culture, and history is reflected in works that are at once bold and meticulous, transcending categories.”
Intricate Oceans: Coral in Contemporary Art
September 23, 2023 – March 24, 2024
Opening Reception: Thursday, September 28 from 5-7pm
Curator’s Tours: Tuesday, October 24 at 1pm / Saturday, December 2 at 1pm / Thursday, February 22 at 11am
Presenting work from seven contemporary artists who are deeply concerned with the health of the coral reefs, the exhibition will explore the environmental pressures facing our oceans through their artistic lens. International in scope, the exhibition highlights work from ceramicists Courtney Mattison and Lauren Shapiro (USA), textile artist Vanessa Barragão (Portugal), painter Lisa Tubach (USA), mixed media artists Stephanie Kilgast (France) and Mara Lefebvre (USA), and sculptor Ginger Ertz (USA). While the news surrounding climate change, pollution, and over-fishing is grim and the effect on coral reefs undeniable, these artists have not given up hope. Each artist has a unique vision, but they all use their art to advocate for the health of the ocean with the goal of inspiring a change in public awareness and support for conservation efforts.
Binya: Faces ob de Gullah Geechee
Coastal Discovery Museum – Main Gallery
March 4 – July 9, 2023
Opening Reception: Thursday, March 9 from 5-7pm
Curator’s Tours: Tuesday, March 21 at 1pm and Saturday, May 6 at 1pm
Collage Night with Nancey B. Price: Thursday, April 27 from 5:30-7:30pm ($25, reservations required)
Closing Party: Saturday, July 8 from 3-9pm
Featuring over 50 portraits and related objects from the 1920s to the present, the exhibition will delve into varied stories of individuals from across the Gullah Geechee corridor. While the Gullah Geechee community has faced many hardships, it remains one of the oldest cultural groups still thriving as a “nation within a nation.” The diversity of the images presented embodies the diversity of those who have called this place home for centuries. Recent acquisitions and commissions for the collection at the Coastal Discovery Museum will be featured along with numerous loans from regional artists and collectors.
Avant Gardener: A Creative Exploration of Imperiled Species
Lisa D. Watson
Sound Art by Eric Chasalow
November 1, 2022 – February 26, 2023
Lisa D. Watson is an artist and a gardener. Her concern with human sprawl fuses with her love for plants and animals in her artwork, pushing her to create multilayered work that sparks a deeper awareness of human impact on nature. Since 2019, with the help of biologists, rangers, and regional naturalists, she has ventured into the surrounding landscapes of the Southeast to study endangered, threatened, and rare plants.
Reception: Thursday, November 3 from 5-7pm
Artist Talk: Wednesday, November 16 at 2:30
Art-full Seeding Workshop: Thursday, December 1 from 5-7pm
Additional Lectures Planned During the Exhibit
Hitnes, The Image Hunter: On the Trail of John James Audubon
April 23 – July 3, 2022
The Image Hunter: On the Trail of John James Audubon features work by the Italian artist Hitnes. The exhibition is a culmination of The Image Hunter project, in which Hitnes retraced Audubon’s travels in the United States and created work during a residency at the Halsey Institute at the College of Charleston in2017 and 2018. The Coastal Discovery Museum is pleased to host the final stop on this national touring exhibition.
Hitnes’s exhibition documents his journey, elaborating on what it is that drives a person to dedicate multiple decades of their life to pursuing an obsession like Audubon did. The exhibition will feature a range of work informed by his own expedition and will include other objects and ephemera collected on his trek. The exhibition will also be accompanied by a feature-length documentary film on Hitnes’s trip, directed by filmmaker Giacomo Agnetti.
Reception and exhibition tour with the artist: April 28 from 4:30-7 pm
Mural Painting at Honey Horn: April 19-29 call for details
Birding at Pinckney Island: Every Wednesday at 7:30am, reservations required
Volumes of Light: The Amazing Lanterns of Chantelle Rytter
The Coastal Discovery Museum invites you to come see the art of Chantelle Rytter up close. The artist behind the hugely successful Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade, as well as Hilton Head’s own lantern parade, Rytter has been creating joy through her art in communities for 20 years. The museum is pleased to show the full spectrum of her work, including one-of-a kind lanterns, puppets, drawings, sketchbooks, photographs, and other ephemera.
Treasures of Our Coastal State
The National Association of Women Artists SC present their unique perspective of South Carolina from January 20 – February 28, 2021 at The Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head Island. This distinguished group of artists unveil our coastal state through their use of composition, texture and hue. Whether captured through the lens, created on canvas or sculpted, these works embrace the diversity and beauty of the vistas and seas in which we live. Artwork will be on exhibit and available for purchase. Additionally, selected artists will be at the Museum Thursdays between Noon – 2:00PM to discuss their work once the Exhibition opens.
VOLUMES OF LIGHT:
THE AMAZING LANTERNS
OF CHANTELLE RYTTER
The Coastal Discovery Museum invites you to come see the art of Chantelle Rytter up close. The artist behind the hugely successful Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade, as well as Hilton Head’s own lantern parade, Rytter has been creating joy through her art in communities for 20 years. The museum is pleased to show the full spectrum of her work, including one-of-a kind lanterns, puppets, drawings, sketchbooks, photographs, and other ephemera.
