Tag: South Alabama arts community

An art gallery studio space with paintings on display

An Artist Who Calls Himself ‘Grantham Unknown’ Left New Orleans Calling It ‘Spiritually Desolate.’ Mobile Gave Him His Light Back.

James Bullard, July 15, 2026

Self-taught artist Grantham Unknown left New Orleans calling its arts scene ‘spiritually desolate’ and found new footing in Mobile, where he now co-manages the Lupercalia Gallery on Dauphin Street.

Mobile

A filmmaker working with a camera on a production set

He Moved to Mobile to Be a Ballet Dancer. Now He’s the City’s Best Local Filmmaker.

James Bullard, July 15, 2026July 16, 2026

Israel Rodriguez moved to Mobile in 2018 to dance with Mobile Ballet and has since built a filmmaking career that earned him Best Local Filmmaker in the 2026 Reader’s Choice Awards.