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Simone Leigh - Satellite (2022)
Glenstone Museum, Potomac, MD

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#BlackAtTheArts

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Happy Black History Month. Listen as artist Rik Freeman provides historical context of his 2024 painting “Wade In”, from his ongoing “Black Beaches During Segregation” series.

This scene is like a sit-in, but at a segregated pool or beach. In this instance at Saint Augustine Beach, Florida, in June of 1964, when a group of agitated White people, along with the police department, assaulted Black people trying to enter the surf. In the same month and city a motel owner threw sulfuric acid on teenagers wading in his motel pool.

These two events were pivotal to President Johnson signing the Civil Rights Act less than a month later.

#blackhistoryfacts #blackatthearts #saintaugustinebeach #dcartist #blackartmatters

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This Saturday, I was at Rik Freeman’s artist talk at Phillips@THEARC, where he discussed his Wade in the Waters exhibition with Sandi Spells.

Freeman’s work is a poignant exploration of history, community, and resilience, utilizing water as a medium to convey powerful stories of struggle and triumph.

The dialogue between Freeman and Spells added significant depth to his work, and I appreciated the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of his artistic vision and how it inspires our future by honoring our collective past.

#RikFreeman #PhillipsAtTHEARC #ThePhillipsCollection #DCArts #BlackAtTheArts

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Philip Kumah’s (@iamkumah) latest works at Artists Alliance Gallery can be summed up as vibrant abstract compositions that redefine the language of Ghanaian textiles.

This fusion of sustainability and identity carries a history, a memory, and a rhythm of its own. I was fortunate to walk through the exhibition, titled KAE, with Nii of @artistsalliancegallery.

“Kae”, the Twi word for remember. I found myself unable to walk away from this piece. It felt like a bridge to a memory I couldn’t quite name… a beautiful, pixelated fusion of our past and the digital present.

So moved that I had to bring a piece of this history home. Grateful to own a work that serves as a constant invitation to kae, to remember who we are and where we’ve been. 🇬🇭🎨

#BlackAtTheArts #Kae #Remember #PhilipKumahKae #ContemporaryGhanaianArt

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We caught up with Erik (@madja_h) at Gallery 1957 to hear why Serge Attukwei Clottey’s latest show, [Dis]Appearing Rituals, is a must-see.

In a world facing a climate crisis, this exhibition shows us that resilience means finding beauty and new life in what others throw away.

Clottey doesn’t just recycle plastic; he involves the Jamestown community in every stitch, turning environmental activism into a collective ritual.

What does sustainability mean to you? Let us know in the comments! 👇

Exhibition Details:
📍 Gallery 1957, Unlimited Space (Accra)
🗓️ Extended through February 7, 2026
Artist: @sergeclottey

#SergeAttukweiClottey #Gallery1957 #BlackAtTheArts #SustainableArt #AccraArt

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Finding stillness where the waters meet. Otis Quaicoe’s “Where the Waters Meet” at @gallery1957 is a beautiful meditation on the radical act of rest and the quiet joy of Black leisure.

Artist: Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe (@otis_quaicoe)
Venue: Gallery 1957, Gallery II, located at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra
Dates: The exhibition was originally scheduled through early January but has been extended until February 7, 2026

#Gallery1957 #OtisQuaicoe #WhereTheWatersMeet #BlackRest #blackatthearts

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Finding stillness where the waters meet. Otis Quaicoe’s “Where the Waters Meet” at @gallery1957 is a beautiful meditation on the radical act of rest and the quiet joy of Black leisure.

During my visit, I had the chance to chat with Prosper, who shared that what he loved most was the colorful radiance of the works and the deep, nostalgic connection to simply being by the water or at the beach.

Listen as Proper describes his experience. What resonates most with you?

Artist: Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe (@otis_quaicoe)
Venue: Gallery 1957, Gallery II, located at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra
Dates: The exhibition was originally scheduled through early January but has been extended until February 7, 2026

#Gallery1957 #OtisQuaicoe #WhereTheWatersMeet #BlackRest #blackatthearts

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Looking back: a reflection of exhibitions I saw in 2025, and the pieces that moved me.

January 10, 2025
I finally made it to the @barnesfoundation to see “Mickalene Thomas: All About Love” at the Barnes Foundation in Philly.

This exhibition, a tribute to Bell Hooks, shone a light on Black womanhood, agency, and the power of the gaze. The pieces showcased the journey of healing and liberation.

I was particularly moved by the Me as Muse installation, where I spent a long time absorbing the complex layers of identity and history. It made me think about my own capacity to love and be loved.

#BlackAtTheArts #MickaleneThomas #AllAboutLove #RadicalJoy #ContemporaryPortraiture

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Looking back: a reflection of exhibitions I saw in 2025, and the pieces that moved me.

My visit to Washington, D.C. on January 5, 2025 was focused on sisterhood. I started with brunch with @priya_byati, then met up at the National Museum of Women in the Arts with my sistas, to see “Samantha Box: Confluences”.

The exhibition beautifully weaves together two decades of Box’s work, from her intimate documentary series “Invisible,” capturing NYC’s LGBTQIA+ youth of color, to the lush, complex still lifes of “Caribbean Dreams”. Her exploration of diasporic identity, race, and gender through photography and collage is incredibly powerful.

* Venue: National Museum of Women in the Arts(DC)
* Key Series: “Invisible” (2005–18) and “Caribbean Dreams” (2018–ongoing)
* Themes: Intersectionality, LGBTQIA+ community bonds, and Afro-Caribbean diasporic identity

#BlackAtTheArts #SamanthaBox #NMWA #Confluences #WomenInTheArts

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A look back at my favorite exhibitions from 2025 and the pieces that resonated with me.

My year in art began with a powerful visit to “The Time Is Always Now: Artists Reframe the Black Figure” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on January 10th, 2025.

This exhibition offered a thought-provoking examination of Black presence and absence in Western art. Titus Kaphar's work stood out for its layered canvases and disruptive style, challenging art historical narratives. His art makes us confront the figures we've overlooked.

In one piece, Kaphar brings a 17th-century Black woman to the forefront, reimagining her story through a 1682 Pierre Mignard portrait.

#BlackAtTheArts #TheTimeIsAlwaysNow #TitusKaphar #PMA #PhillyArt

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Spent my afternoon immersed in the world of Amy Sherald. American Sublime is such a powerful look at her evolution, from her early works to the iconic portraits of Michelle Obama and Breonna Taylor.

The scale, the colors, the grayscale skin tones. There’s a quiet power in the way she captures everyday Black life.

Location: Baltimore Museum of Art.
Dates: The exhibition is on view through April 5, 2026.
Tickets: Timed entry tickets are required ($18 for adults); however, admission is free on Thursday evenings from 5–9 PM.

#BlackAtTheArts #BlackArtMatters #AmericanSublime #AmySherald #BMA

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Art that feels like a conversation. Rashid Johnson’s “A Poem for Deep Thinkers” at the Guggenheim is a 30-year journey through identity, memory, and the materials that ground us—shea butter, black soap, and live plants.

Johnson uses materials like shea butter and black soap to bridge the gap between personal narrative and pop culture. A profound reminder that nothing new gets made without honoring all that came before.

📍 @guggenheim
Exhibition: Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers
On view until Jan 19, 2026

#blackatthearts #RashidJohnson #Guggenheim #APoemForDeepThinkers #NYCArt #ContemporaryArt #MuseumReels #BlackArtHistory #Sanguine

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