The Hattiesburg Stack, a newly commissioned painting by Mississippi artist Charlie Buckley, was unveiled on December 11, 2025, during a one-night-only event at Prospect on Main Gallery in downtown Hattiesburg. Commissioned by Abb and Jennifer Payne as a gift to the city they call home, the work is a Hattiesburg-specific edition of Buckley’s acclaimed Stacked Series, which explores the layered histories of Mississippi towns and cities.
Measuring 60 by 60 inches and created in oil on panel, The Hattiesburg Stack features dozens of recognizable local landmarks—each thoughtfully selected with the Paynes to reflect the city’s architectural, cultural, and civic identity. These include the Saenger Theater, The University of Southern Mississippi’s scoreboard and Aubrey K. Lucas Administration Building, William Carey University’s Tatum Hall, Hattiesburg City Hall, Forrest County Courthouse, Coney Island Cafe, Longleaf Trace, Camp Shelby, the Hattiesburg Depot, Hattiesburg Water Tower, and the Evelyn Gandy House Historical Marker.
“The painting is part of my Stacked Series, focusing on the histories of Mississippi towns and cities,” Buckley said. “Each stack becomes a visual record of place—how memory, structure, and identity sit on top of one another over time.”
For Abb Payne, founder and CEO of The Payne Companies, and his wife, Jennifer, the commission was rooted in both personal experience and their devotion to Hattiesburg’s growth and artistic legacy. “Art has the power to preserve history while inviting new conversations about who we are and where we’re headed,” said Abb Payne. “This piece honors Hattiesburg’s story while creating space for reflection, dialogue, and pride in our community.”
The unveiling event included an intimate conversation with the artist. The evening culminated with Abb and Jennifer presenting four official prints to The University of Southern Mississippi, William Carey University, the City of Hattiesburg, and the Hattiesburg Convention Commission, ensuring the work’s reach extends into both educational and civic spaces.
The idea for commissioning The Hattiesburg Stack began when Abb Payne’s parents visited the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art in Laurel, where they first encountered Buckley’s work. Abb Payne’s mother was immediately drawn to Buckley’s style, prompting the Paynes to acquire the first print of his Oxford Stack. While framing this print, an onlooker remarked, “I bet the Hattiesburg one is amazing,” which inspired the Paynes to commission a piece unique to Hattiesburg months later.
ABOUT CHARLIE BUCKLEY
Charlie Buckley is a Mississippi-based artist whose work explores place, memory, and the layered histories of Southern towns and cities. A two-time recipient of the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Award and the Mississippi Arts Commission Fellowship, his work is held in public and private collections across the region. Buckley lives and works in Oxford, Mississippi.
Learn more: www.buckleystudio.com.
ABOUT THE PAYNE COMPANIES
The Payne Companies is a Mississippi-based investment and management organization founded by Abb Payne and led alongside his wife, Jennifer. Together, guided by a commitment to people, place, and long-term community stewardship, the Payne Family philanthropic efforts support business and civic initiatives that strengthen education, healthcare, the arts, and cultural institutions across the communities they call home.
Learn more: www.payneco.com.
