Light Within Ourselves
“Light Within Ourselves: Haitian Art in Iowa” showcases the largest public collection of Haitian art in the Midwest, showcasing paintings, metalwork, sculpture, and sequined drapos. Des Moines Art Center (A.H. Blank Gallery), 4700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA. Runs through September 7, 2025.
This exhibition will take place at the Des Moines Art Center (A.H. Blank Gallery), 4700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312. Runs through September 7, 2025.
Exhibition Description
Organized in partnership with the Waterloo Center for the Arts, the exhibition draws from that institution’s 2,000+ piece Haitian art collection, the largest public holding in Iowa and the U.S. Co-curated by Beth Gollnick and Chawne Paige, the exhibition traces Haitian creative traditions alongside themes of diaspora, spirituality, and everyday life. It presents diverse media: painting, metalwork, sculpture, ritual objects, and drapos that weave together colonial history, African diaspora influence, and spiritual traditions within Haitian visual culture. Through generational artworks, it highlights the intersection of spiritual symbolism and daily life, positioning Iowa as an unsuspected center for preserving Haitian cultural heritage.
Gallery
