Welcome back to travel! Whether you’re just getting back in travel mode or have been at it, this editorial, brought to you in partnership with American Airlines is for you.
It’s Black History Month, which means we’re particularly excited to highlight the beauty of Blackness on all fronts, especially Black art. Black art has always had a profound impact on the culture; whether it was Black art utilized as a vehicle to showcase Black excellence during the Harlem Renaissance or being used as a way of rebellion against racial injustice during the Civil Rights movement, it has always been prevalent in our community. As we do our best to navigate this world that is still plagued with white supremacy alongside the COVID-19
pandemic, it shouldn’t come as a shock that Black artists are still exercising their creative freedom to reflect the current time in beautiful, breathtaking pieces of work. An added luxury is that we now have entire museums created to preserve our art including The Charles H. Wright Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
To celebrate Black art in all of its glory, we’ve compiled a list of six Black art exhibits and museums to check out at your leisure.
1. The Charles H. Wright Museum
Located in Detroit, this museum was founded in 1997 by Dr. Charles Wright, and 30 others, as the International Afro-American Museum. After traveling to Denmark and witnessing a memorial for World War II service members, Wright decided to honor the history of Black Americans in the form of a museum. When it opened in 1997, it was said to have been the “largest African American historical museum in the world,” according to its website.
2. National Museum of African American History and Culture
Opening in 2016, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, or NMAAHC, is the only national museum committed to the preservation of African American culture. While it debuted to the public in 2016, the Act of Congress established it in 2003. According to its website, the museum has collected more than 36,000 artifacts.
3. Black American Portraits at LACMA
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, or LACMA, unveiled
Black American Portraits in November. The exhibit boasts an art gallery that holds art from various points in Black American history, spread across two centuries. With content from eras including the Black Power movement and the Harlem Renaissance, this exhibit is still available to visit until April.
4. Nick Cave: Forothermore at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
Distinguished artist Nick Cave, known for his vibrant expressions of art, is coming to the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, or at least his art is, rather. Internationally recognized for works that transcend disciplines, Cave’s exhibit Forothermore celebrates unique individuals who fall under the category “other,” while celebrating the way that art can move us forward to a future of equity. The exhibit opens in May and will close out in early October.
5. Projects: Kahlil Robert Irving at the MoMA
The Museum of Modern Art, or the MoMA, is home to Projects: Kahlil Robert Irving, which is now open through May 1. The exhibit, part of The Elaine Dannheisser Projects Series, takes place in the form of wallpaper around the gallery to signify “the vast scroll of digital culture,” according to its website. The exhibit also features replicas of digital objects that we encounter daily, such as memes and Facebook statuses.
6. Life Between Islands: Caribbean-British Art 1950s - Now at Tate Modern
This exhibit, open until early April, celebrates 70 years of British-Caribbean art. Truly capturing the essence of Caribbean artists who eventually planted seeds in Britain, viewers can see photography, fashion and other mediums of artistic expression. Through these pieces of art, viewers will be able to witness how communities and new ideas were formed by Caribbean ancestors after the British war.
Have you been to any of these exhibits? If so, which one was your favorite? As we continue to move forward as a community and culture, exhibits like these are so important in preserving our history. We need to continue maintaining these cultural artifacts so that future generations will benefit from them.
