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For Immediate ReleaseWhat: John Bell, Jr.: A Painted Legacy
Where: Fort Smith Museum of History
When: Opening Night — Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 6:00 pm
(Exhibition on view February 24, 2026 through May 16, 2026)
Cost: Free admission; please RSVP at fortsmithmuseum.org
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Fort Smith Museum of History Presents
John Bell, Jr.: A Painted Legacy
Honoring the enduring vision of John Bell, Jr., the Fort Smith Museum of History is honored to present the inaugural and complete showing of John Bell, Jr.: A Painted Legacy. On view in the FSMH Boyd Gallery, the exhibition opens Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 6:00 pm with a guest speaker and light hors d’oeuvres, and will remain on view through Saturday, May 16, 2026.
A Painted Legacy brings together the most iconic images from Bell’s celebrated career, recreated as museum-quality canvas prints. Because Bell’s original works are held across numerous public and private collections, this exhibition represents a rare and comprehensive opportunity to experience the full scope of his artistic legacy in one unified presentation.
John Bell, Jr. (1937–2013) was an acclaimed painter and sculptor whose career spanned nearly five decades. Born with cerebral palsy due to low blood oxygen at birth, Bell spent his life in a wheelchair and had limited use of his upper extremities, particularly his right hand. Undeterred, he devoted his life to developing his artistic voice while challenging the perceptual biases faced by people with physical disabilities. Alongside his art, Bell was a lifelong advocate for accessibility, helping raise awareness of disability access issues at the local, state, and national levels.
The exhibition features reproductions of Bell’s most recognizable and beloved works, including the famed U.S. Marshals Series, as well as his evocative paintings of historic churches and meticulously rendered Old West architecture. Together, these works reflect Bell’s deep reverence for history, place, and perseverance.
“Bell’s activism was part of who he was and what made living in this region better,” said Bill Kropp III. “His art, though, continues to enhance all our lives and defines his lasting legacy.”
In addition to the artwork, A Painted Legacy includes interpretive panels that trace Bell’s full story—his artistic career, his advocacy for people with disabilities, sketches developed during his work with Arkansas State Parks to improve accessibility, conceptual designs for adaptive vehicles, and personal materials that illuminate his creative process. As a traveling exhibition, these narrative elements ensure audiences across the country encounter not only Bell’s art, but the life and vision behind it.
This exhibition is made possible through a grant from the Walter O. Caldwell Foundation.
The John Bell, Jr. Legacy Project is provided by RAM.
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320 Rogers Ave, Fort Smith, AR, United States, Arkansas 72901
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