“Miss Thang,” Renee Cox, 2009. Image: courtesy of the artist and Guild Hall.
As the weather cools, immerse yourself in the captivating world of art. Offering a unique experience that can’t be replicated, there are a host of stunning exhibitions and thought-provoking installations by Black artists, from Renee Cox to Kehinde Wiley, that are sure to get every visitor talking. These cultural institutions let you explore and appreciate the beauty of human creativity, so strap on your thinking cap and check out one of these Black artists’ exhibits near you.
The Soul Cries Out, La Grua Center—Stonington, Connecticut
Haitian-American Cubism artist Samson Tonton unveils his latest work in The Soul Cries Out, currently on display at the La Grua Center. It’s a collection of his awe-inspiring works that push the conventional thinker to reimagine nature, love and the self.
Black Artists of Oregon, Portland Art Museum—Portland, Oregon
An exhibition that highlights and celebrates the work of Black artists in Oregon over more than a century, the Portland Art Museum aims to showcase work that has been largely ignored in the past. On display through March 2024.
María Magdalena Campos-Pons: Behold, Brooklyn Museum—Brooklyn, New York
Spanning nearly four decades of visually engaging artworks from Afro-Cuban artist María Magdalena Campos-Pons, this autobiographical-themed work explores culture, history, religion and survival. From September 15, 2023, through January 14, 2024.
SIGHTLINES on Peace, Power & Prestige: Metal Arts in Africa, Bard Graduate Center—New York, New York
SIGHTLINES on Peace, Power, and Prestige: Metal Arts in Africa is presenting sculptures, photography, weavings, metal work and multimedia installations featuring pieces from Mali, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ghana and the Congo. From September 29 through December 31, 2023.
B-side: (Broken) Memory and Remix, BRIC—Brooklyn, New York
This exhibition at the BRIC visually embodies the concept of the remix of hip hop. Artists Camella Ehlke, David Ellis, Adama Delphine Fawundu, and Raque Ford explore remixing as a method of storytelling and preserving memories while looking to the future. From October 10 through January 21, 2024.
The Ten Commandments of Renée Cox, The Princeton University Art Museum—Princeton, New Jersey
This Renee Cox retrospective at The Princeton University Art Museum provides an in-depth look at more than four decades of work. The artist uses her body to investigate themes of motherhood, liberation, self-realization and more to celebrate Black womanhood. From November 18, 2023, through Sunday, January 28, 2024.
Kehinde Wiley: An Archaeology of Silence, The Museum of Fine Arts—Houston, Texas
Contemporary artist Kehinde Wiley takes us on a journey with a new, monumental body of work created against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the murder of George Floyd and the global rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. From November 19, 2023, through June 19, 2024.