Discover Walter Anderson’s Mississippi: Horn Island & Beyond

Walter Inglis Anderson was a reclusive New Orleans-born artist who spent most of his life in Mississippi. In the mid-1940s, Anderson became enamored with a small island on the Mississippi Gulf Coast called Horn Island. Anderson risked his life on countless occasions to travel to Horn Island in a small boat to paint colorful portraits of seabirds, luscious tropical plants, and sparkling seawater. Visitors can view Walter Inglis Anderson’s vibrant, colorful paintings at the Walter Anderson Museum of Art in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

The Walter Anderson Museum of Art is small yet striking. The turquoise-colored boat that Anderson used to travel to Horn Island hangs from the ceiling. The walls of the museum are covered in colorful murals of clouds, birds, and trees that once graced the walls of Anderson’s house. The museum is a small space with an abundance of natural light that illuminates the artwork and highlights its captivating vitality.

Walter Anderson’s brother, Peter Anderson, was also an accomplished artist, though he worked with clay instead of paint. Shearwater Pottery was founded by Peter Anderson in 1928. Shearwater Pottery—where Walter Anderson once served as a business partner and artisan—continues to produce decorative and utilitarian pottery and tiles. Visitors are encouraged to tour the Shearwater Pottery showroom—which is located a short distance from the Walter Anderson Museum of Art—to view a vast collection of gorgeous, carefully crafted pottery that is for sale.

If you’re thinking of staying overnight in Ocean Springs, The Roost is a boutique hotel with gorgeous live oak trees, a serene swimming pool, and plush beds. Every room pays homage to elements of the Mississippi Gulf Coast such as the Oyster Suite, which has a pirogue—another name for a small fishing boat—hanging from the ceiling.

Visitors who are searching for a little fun in the sun can relax on Front Beach. Don’t be surprised if some of the seabirds that you saw depicted in Walter Anderson’s paintings grace the horizon. For a small fee, Belly Up Beach Chairs will set up two beach chairs and an umbrella so that you can enjoy one of Mississippi’s most picturesque beaches in style and comfort.
Viewing Walter Anderson’s vibrant paintings will leave you feeling energized and inspired. The serene beauty and charm of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, is well worth exploring. You will forever associate Mississippi with white sand, circling seabirds, and gorgeous art after a trip to Ocean Springs.