Kentuck to Open Abe Partridge Exhibition During First Friday

A powerful new exhibition is coming to downtown Northport, and it is rooted deep in Southern storytelling, faith, and lived experience.

According to a press release from Kentuck Art Center, “With Signs Following,” an exhibition by Alabama musician and folk artist Abe Partridge, will open Friday, March 6, 2026, at 5 p.m. at Kentuck at Queen City. The opening coincides with March’s First Friday Artwalk and will feature artist and curator talks at 6 p.m. The event is free and family friendly.

Partridge, who is based in Mobile, first gained national and international attention with his 2018 album “Cotton Fields and Blood For Days.” According to a press release from Kentuck Art Center, his music career helped shine a light on an art practice that mirrors his songwriting, drawing from folk traditions while pushing conversations about Southern identity forward.

The exhibition includes paintings by Partridge along with art and ephemera collected during his time immersed in Appalachian religious snake handling communities. During the pandemic, when touring paused, Partridge spent nearly two years visiting and building trust within those communities. Eventually, he was given permission to document their rituals, music, and stories, creating a body of work that honors a rarely seen corner of Southern life.

Alongside the exhibition, Partridge recorded an eight hour podcast titled “Alabama Astronaut,” produced by Ferrill Gibbs. According to a press release from Kentuck Art Center, the podcast debuted in the Top Ten Documentary Podcasts on Apple Podcasts in 2022.

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An additional ticketed event, “An Acoustic Evening with Abe Partridge,” will be held Saturday, March 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Kentuck at Queen City. Tickets are $35 and space is limited.

More details are available at kentuck.org.