art exhibitions of the black diaspora

This sweeping retrospective across the Bermondsey galleries presents six decades of Howardena Pindell's extraordinary artistic evolution—a body of work born from trauma and transformed into triumph. From the 1960s to today, her paintings, sculptures, and works on paper reveal an artist who has turned the wounds of racial segregation into weapons of beauty and resistance.

At age eight, during a family road trip through northern Kentucky, Pindell discovered red circles marking the bottom of cups at a roadside stand—a cruel coding system that designated which utensils Black customers were permitted to use under Jim Crow laws. This searing childhood encounter with institutionalized racism would become the genesis of her most powerful artistic vocabulary. The circle, initially a symbol of exclusion and humiliation, became Pindell's chosen instrument of reclamation.

Through obsessive, meditative repetition, she has spent decades transforming this loaded motif into something transcendent. Her circles multiply across canvases as ellipses, perforations, spray-painted constellations, and methodical hole punches—each iteration a small act of defiance, a conscious rewriting of painful memory. What began as markers of segregation become portals of liberation, turning the grid of oppression into a boundless field of possibility.

The Waiting Room presents new works by Inniss that test the boundaries of representational painting, using her involuntary memories to evoke sensations that feel familiar yet uncanny. It’s a show about what remains when memory is filtered through the senses, and how identity can be understood as fluid and multidimensional. 

The Game marks the 40th anniversary of the Cuenca Biennial. It features a dynamic curatorial model with 17 different curators, each selecting three artists (with at least one Ecuadorian per curator) to create a pluralistic exhibition across the city.

Marianne Boesky Gallery presents Boesky in Paris, a special pop-up exhibition coinciding with Art Basel Paris and celebrating the gallery’s return to the city running from October 20 – November 2, 2025

This year’s theme, “soil”, invites artistic reflection on the ground beneath us—both physical and metaphoric. The exhibition challenges the typical urban-rural divide by activating the countryside as a laboratory for pressing issues, creative collaboration, and rooted connection. Through installations and performances in dialog with local culture and landscapes, the art route positions Zwalm as a stage for vital contemporary inquiry.

This landmark group exhibition is the first major institutional presentation to examine how photography and photo-based media helped define and shape the Black Arts Movement, a cultural force parallel to the Civil Rights Movement that emphasized Black self-expression, identity, and artistic autonomy. It highlights how artists used photography, collage, video, and installation to document lived experience, build community narratives, and assert visual sovereignty.

Nationhood: Memory and Hope is a landmark touring photography project that brings together internationally renowned Ethiopian artist Aïda Muluneh and seven emerging UK photographers to examine identity, belonging, and cultural diversity across the UK’s four nations. The exhibition is structured as a dialogue between Muluneh’s colourful, staged photographs and a series of black-and-white portraits, both created in collaboration with communities in each host city. Each venue adds its own local voices through commissioned works by regional photographers, creating a layered portrait of modern Britain. This is the first UK City of Culture initiative to tour all four constituent nations, marking an unprecedented cultural exchange that connects audiences from Bradford, Belfast, Cardiff, and Glasgow.

This exhibition presents a contemplative body of work by Adiskidan Ambaye that interrogates how emptiness and space define form. The show includes paintings and sculptures that contemplate the interplay between absence and presence, evoking balance, depth, and movement through layered textures and organic forms.  Through intricately layered paintings and delicately balanced sculptures, Exile Within invites viewers to reflect on spirituality, perception, and the tumultuous patterns of contemporary life.

Hold Me Close highlights a new body of Butler’s quilted portraiture created during a politically and emotionally charged period. The exhibition centers on themes of empathy, human connection, and the need for tenderness in challenging times. On view at Jeffrey Deitch Los Angeles, the show brings together large-scale textile works that reflect resilience, identity, and the shared stories within Black life and history.

Caribbean and Latin American Visions is a dynamic group exhibition exploring the diverse cultural, historical, and artistic perspectives that shape the Caribbean and Latin American regions. Presented at Pinecrest Gardens, the exhibition highlights visual narratives that celebrate heritage, migration, and contemporary identity, with featured contributions from multidisciplinary artist Asser Saint-Val.

Tomorrow is Another Day is a solo exhibition by Neo Matloga, presenting a compelling series of collage-paintings and mixed-media works that explore Black domestic life, intimacy, and identity in post-apartheid South Africa.

"Hayward Oubre: Structural Integrity" celebrates Hayward L. Oubre, Jr. (1916–2006), a pivotal figure in Black American art and modernism. Featuring 52 sculptures, paintings, and prints, it highlights Oubre's innovative use of materials, notably his transformation of wire coat hangers into modernist sculptures. Stanley Museum of Art, 160 W. Burlington St., Iowa City, IA 52242. Runs from August 26, 2025, to December 7, 2025.

Nationhood: Memory and Hope is a collaborative photography exhibition featuring renowned Ethiopian artist Aïda Muluneh and seven emerging UK photographers. It examines how identity, culture, and shared histories unite the UK’s four nations, with new portraiture and staged photographic works created in Bradford, Belfast, Cardiff, and Glasgow.

The Campus, a collaborative initiative by six New York galleries—Bortolami, James Cohan, kaufmann repetto, Anton Kern, Andrew Kreps, and kurimanzutto—transforms a former school into a dynamic venue for contemporary art. The 2025 Annual Exhibition continues this mission, offering a platform for expansive thought and free-ranging artistic expression.

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“ars viva 2025 – Where will we land?” continues the long-standing tradition of the ars viva prize in highlighting emerging international artists whose practices push the boundaries of form, medium, and narrative. Hosted at Haus der Kunst, Munich, the exhibition situates itself at the intersection of personal history and collective futures, bringing together works that question the fragility of belonging, the instability of cultural memory, and the shifting grounds of our social realities. By foregrounding urgent artistic voices, the exhibition does not offer definitive answers but instead frames a space of exploration and uncertainty—asking not only where we land as individuals, but also how we arrive together.

Sonia Gomes’s Raio de Sol showcases vibrant assemblages and suspended textile sculptures that explore themes of identity, history, and transformation. The exhibition is on view at Fiesta Lille 3000, Lille, France, from September 6 through November 10, 2025.

This is Firelei Báez’s first North American survey, presenting 30+ works spanning nearly two decades of her multidisciplinary practice. Originally shown at Boston’s ICA and Vancouver Art Gallery, this tour round completes at Des Moines 

This is Firelei Báez’s first North American survey, presenting 30+ works spanning nearly two decades of her multidisciplinary practice. Originally shown at Boston’s ICA and Vancouver Art Gallery, this tour round completes at Des Moines 

 All About Love, the first major exhibition in France dedicated to Mickalene Thomas, showcases over two decades of her vibrant and multifaceted work, celebrating Black femininity, power, and love. Les Abattoirs, Musée - Frac Occitanie Toulouse, 76 allées Charles de Fitte - 31300 Toulouse, France Runs through November 9, 2025.

Les Abattoirs presents Mickalene Thomas: All About Love, the first major exhibition in France dedicated to the pioneering American artist Mickalene Thomas. On view from June 13 through November 9, 2025, this exhibition marks the final stop of an international tour that included The Broad in Los Angeles, The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, and the Hayward Gallery in London. The exhibition showcases over two decades of Thomas's vibrant and multifaceted work, encompassing paintings, collages, photographs, videos, and installations that celebrate Black femininity, power, and love.The title and themes draw inspiration from bell hooks's seminal text, All About Love, emphasizing love as a tool for healing and collective emancipation.

Her work often employs metaphors of water, boats, and floating bodies to signify transatlantic journeys and the spiritual and physical weight of migration. García reimagines devotional iconography and baroque aesthetics through a Caribbean lens, layering her pieces with historical references, saturated color, and symbolic forms that echo both celebration and mourning.

“Earth Pictures,” a new series by Yinka Shonibare CBE spotlights environmental impacts of Western colonialism and industrialization across Africa through vibrant quilts, sculpted ancestral masks, and intricate mixed-media works> Goodman Gallery, 163 Jan Smuts Ave, Parkwood, Johannesburg, South Africa. Runs June 5 through July 24. 

 Carnival, an immersive exhibition that includes a diverse group of artists and explores the vibrant intersection of art and festivity.  The works capture the spirit of carnival through painting, sculpture, and installation and reflect the exuberance, complexity, and cultural significance of carnival traditions worldwide. Jeffrey Deitch Gallery, 18 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10013. Runs from June 5 to August 30, 2025.

This is Tau Lewis’ first solo exhibition at Sadie Coles HQ’s Bury Street location, showcasing four sculptural masks created as a unified poetic entity. These pieces symbolically trace the odyssey of Venus during retrograde, reflecting themes of descent, transformation, and rebirth.

Aishah (Los caminos del alma), a solo exhibition by Italian–Senegalese artist, Maïmouna  Guerresi, presents new photographs and sculptures that weave Sufi spiritual symbolism with visual narratives of Black Muslim femininity.  Mariane Ibrahim Gallery, Río Pánuco 36, Col. Renacimiento, Cuauhtémoc, 06500 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico. Runs through September 13, 2025

The exhibition offers a comprehensive survey of Ayón’s oeuvre, tracing her evolution from small-format, colorful lithographs to her iconic, large-scale black-and-white collographs. It highlights her technical mastery and her unique ability to use printmaking to construct immersive, narrative environments.

Source Notes marks a significant moment in Lorna Simpson’s artistic journey, highlighting a decade of her painting practice that extends her incisive explorations of identity and representation. Transitioning from her pioneering conceptual photography of the 1980s, Simpson's recent works incorporate screen-printed collages using imagery sourced from vintage Ebony and Jet magazines, as well as archives from the Associated Press and the Library of Congress. These found images—her "source notes"—are layered with washes of ink and acrylic on materials like fiberglass, wood, and clayboard, creating compositions where figures emerge and dissolve within abstract landscapes.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents Lorna Simpson: Source Notes, the first exhibition to survey the artist’s painting practice comprehensively. On view from May 19 to November 2, 2025, this landmark showcase features over 30 works, including pieces from Simpson’s acclaimed Venice Biennale debut and her celebrated Special Characters series. The exhibition delves into themes of race, gender, identity, and history through Simpson's innovative fusion of figuration and abstraction. 

Curated by Ekow Eshun, this is a ticketed travelling exhibition anchored at the BMA as part of its “Turn Again to the Earth” initiative—exploring environmental justice, climate change, and colonial histories through art

ICA San Francisco presents Spotlight: Tau Lewis, a solo exhibition featuring the acclaimed Toronto-born artist’s monumental textile sculptures. The exhibition showcases repurposed fabrics and found materials crafted into intricate, layered installations that honor African diasporic traditions of creativity and resilience. Institute of Contemporary Art, San Francisco (ICA), 345 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA. Runs from May 16 -December 7, 2025

​The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute presents "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," an exhibition exploring the significance of Black dandyism in shaping identities across the Atlantic diaspora.This showcase delves into the evolution of Black sartorial elegance from the 18th century to contemporary fashion.Runs from May 10 to October 26, 2025.​

 Mildred Thompson: Frequencies, the most comprehensive solo museum exhibition Thompson, features approximately fifty works spanning four decades (1959–1999), including paintings, sculptures, etchings, drawings, assemblages, and musical compositions. Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, 61 NE 41st Street, Miami, FL 33137. Runs through October 12, 2025.

An immersive exhibition of Sonia Gomes’s sculptural works that combine textiles, found objects, and natural materials to explore identity, memory, and communal storytelling. Located at Storm King Art Center (1 Museum Rd, New Windsor, NY), this exhibition runs from May 7 through November 10, 2025.

“Toyin Ojih Odutola: Ilé Oriaku” is the artist’s seventh solo exhibition with Jack Shainman Gallery, showcasing approximately 31 multimedia drawings and works on paper. On view from May 6 to July 18, 2025, the exhibition builds upon her recent presentations at the Nigerian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale and Kunsthalle Basel, exploring memory, language, and ancestral connection.

Features nearly 40 artworks by about 28–30 Black artists, spanning painting, sculpture, drawing, prints, photography, and mixed-media collage.

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Works are organized into five thematic sections: Spiral Group, abstraction, early figuration, contemporary photography, and contemporary figuration.

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Artists represented include Amalia Amaki, Emma Amos, Henry Ossawa Tanner, Faith Ringgold, Lorna Simpson, Sam Gilliam, Elizabeth Catlett, Carrie Mae Weems, and many others.

A large-scale installation that draws on the artist's roots in the iron-rich region of Minas Gerais, Brazil, "Amulets" features iron ore and copper, elegantly arranged with beads and ceramics, creating a symbiotic relationship between the materials and the viewer. Sculpture Center, Long Island City, NY (May 1, 2025 – July 28, 2025)

A large-scale installation that draws on the artist's roots in the iron-rich region of Minas Gerais, Brazil, "Amulets" features iron ore and copper, elegantly arranged with beads and ceramics, creating a symbiotic relationship between the materials and the viewer. Sculpture Center, Long Island City, NY (May 1, 2025 – July 28, 2025)

Cameroonian artist Moses Salihou's  solo presentation showcases his BOND series at,Tanya Weddemire Gallery's debut at EXPO CHICAGO. Merging portraiture with abstraction, Salihou’s oil paintings feature richly textured surfaces that explore Black beauty, identity, and human connection.  Navy Pier, Festival Hall, 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611. Runs from April 24-27, 2025.

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“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.

 Barthélémy Toguo, an internationally acclaimed Cameroonian artist presents new works in his first solo exhibition in Japan.  The exhibition bridges African and Japanese cultural narratives through painting, sculpture, installation, and performance. Space Un, 1F KLO Minami Aoyama Building, 2-4-9 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 107-0062. Runs through June 29, 2025.

"Roots and Realism" showcases Lacroix's hyper-realistic oil paintings and charcoal portraits, capturing the vibrancy and essence of Haitian life during the 1970s and 1980s. The exhibition offers visitors an immersive experience into the rich cultural heritage of Haiti as seen through Lacroix's eyes.

In addition to the exhibition, an artist talk titled "An Intimate Chat with Haitian Artist Sophia Lacroix" was held on May 16, 2025, at the Ali Cultural Arts Center. During this event, attendees had the opportunity to engage with Lacroix as she shared personal insights about her life and artwork featured in the exhibition.

For those interested in experiencing Lacroix's evocative portrayal of Haitian culture and history, "Roots and Realism" remains open to the public until June 21, 2025. Visitors are encouraged to check the Ali Cultural Arts Center's official website or contact the center directly for more details on visiting hours and any associated events.

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Renowned contemporary artist Rashid Johnson presents a major solo exhibition featuring nearly 90 works, including paintings, sculptures, and installations. Johnson's art delves into themes of identity, race, and history, often incorporating materials like shea butter, black soap, and ceramic tiles to explore the complexities of the African American experience. 

 Zanele Muholi: Sawubona, is a solo exhibition by acclaimed South African visual activist and photographer Zanele Muholi showcasing  powerful black-and-white photographs that explore identity, intimacy, and resilience within the Black LGBTQ+ community. Yancey Richardson Gallery, 525 West 22nd Street, New York, NY 10011. Runs through May 23, 2025.

 Malick Sidibé: Regardez-moi, showcases the iconic Malian photographer’s vivid documentation of post-independence Bamako. From April 17 to May 31, 2025, the exhibition features rarely seen photographs and Sidibé’s innovative “Painted Frames” series, blending photography with traditional West African reverse-glass painting. Jack Shainman Gallery, 513 W 20th Street, New York, NY 10011. Runs through May 31, 2025.

Homework Gallery, in partnership with FORGOTTEN LANDS, presents "poemas de sal y tierra (poems of salt and soil)," an exhibition running from April 12 to May 31, 2025, at 7338 NW Miami Ct, Miami, FL.This collective living archive features artists from the Caribbean and Latin America who explore themes of cultural identity, memory, and ancestral geographies through diverse mediums.

This exhibition showcases ten of Julien’s most significant multi-screen installations created between 1999 and 2022, along with a selection of his earlier single-channel films. Spanning more than three decades, the show emphasizes Julien’s pioneering role in video art and his contributions to global conversations on identity, representation, and justice. It offers an immersive, non-linear cinematic experience in which viewers move physically through layered narratives and perspectives.

Gagosian Gallery in London presents I Do Not Come to You by Chance, the UK solo debut of Ghanaian artist Amoako Boafo.On view from April 10 to May 24, 2025, the exhibition features Boafo's signature finger-painted portraits, celebrating Black identity and community.Inspired by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani’s novel of the same name, the show invites viewers into a transformative space that reflects Boafo's personal and cultural narratives. Runs through May 24, 2025.

“Tides of Being” marks a pivotal moment in Mlengeya’s artistic practice, incorporating water as a crucial element alongside her signature minimalistic and figurative style. The series continues her exploration of black women, but here water becomes more than background—it interacts with, transforms, and envelops the figures. The show reflects on presence, motion vs stillness, depth, and the transcendent possibilities of body and environment. 

Amy Sherald: American Sublime presents over fifty paintings crafted by one of the most distinguished black artists in the 21st century. In her first solo exhibition with Whitney Museum of Art, Sherald’s paintings–often depicting notable and symbolic African-American figures such as the Obamas and Breonna Taylor–reflects a historically omitted side of black contemporary art, exploring the sublimity in the Black American identity.  Whitney Museum of American Art, 99 Gansevoort Street, New York, NY 10014. Runs April 9 through August 2025.

​The New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) presents "New African Masquerades: Artistic Innovations and Collaborations," an exhibition showcasing the work of four contemporary West African artists: Chief Ekpenyong Bassey Nsa, Sheku “Goldenfinger” Fofanah, David Sanou, and Hervé Youmbi. This exhibition offers a rare insight into modern masquerade practices, highlighting individual artistry within diverse social, economic, and religious contexts. Runs from April 4 to August 10, 2025.​

This solo exhibition, ​Emma Prempeh: Belonging In-Between, explores memory, home, and identity through evocative paintings.  Highly personal, Prempeh reflects on her matrilineal heritage, particularly her mother Carmen's return to St. Vincent after four decades, which served as a catalyst for Prempeh's reflections on home and identity.  Tiwani Contemporary (London), 24 Cork Street, London, W1S 3NG, UK. Runs through May 24, 2025.​

A posthumous exhibition, The Knight, or Lancela Palm-and-Steel, honors Lorraine O’Grady’s expansive career. Spanning four decades, the show delves into her revolutionary conceptual practice and the personas she crafted to explore identity and cultural hybridity. Hirshhorn Museum, [insert address].  Runs through May 31, 2025.​

​"To Scatter Seeds" is a compelling group exhibition at TERN Gallery in Nassau, Bahamas, featuring works by Bahamian artists Cydne Jasmin Coleby, Kachelle Knowles, and Jodi Minnis. The exhibition delves into themes of generational differences, lineage, family, spirituality, and the diaspora. Runs from March 27 to May 17, 2025.​

The Whitney Museum of American Art presents Four Ways of Being, a newly commissioned installation by acclaimed portraitist Amy Sherald. Known for her signature grayscale skin tones and vibrant backdrops, Sherald’s work explores identity, history, and representation. This series of four portraits captures subjects across generations and backgrounds, offering a meditation on presence, individuality, and the coexistence of past, present, and future. Runs through September 2025.

 Jack Whitten: The Messenger is the first comprehensive retrospective of the visionary artist’s six-decade career. Featuring over 175 works—including paintings, sculptures, and works on paper—the exhibition traces Whitten’s groundbreaking contributions to abstraction and his exploration of race, history, and technology. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), 11 West 53 Street, Manhattan, New York, 10019. Runs from March 23, 2025 to August 2, 2025.

Jack Whitten: The Messenger is the first comprehensive retrospective of the visionary artist’s six-decade career. Featuring over 175 works—including paintings, sculptures, and works on paper—the exhibition traces Whitten’s groundbreaking contributions to abstraction and his exploration of race, history, and technology..  Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), 11 West 53 Street, Manhattan, New York, 10019. Runs from March 23, 2025 to August 2, 2025

David Castillo Gallery presents A Tesseract, A Talisman, a new series of works by Sanford Biggers that expands his multidisciplinary approach to history, materiality, and transformation. This exhibition—his fifth solo show with the gallery—features an unprecedented combination of quilt-based tapestries and ceramic sculptures.  David Castillo Gallery, 3930 NE 2nd Avenue, Suite 201, Miami, FL, 33137. Runs from March 20 to June 14, 2025.

David Castillo Gallery presents A Tesseract, A Talisman, a new series of works by Sanford Biggers that expands his multidisciplinary approach to history, materiality, and transformation. This exhibition—his fifth solo show with the gallery—features an unprecedented combination of quilt-based tapestries and ceramic sculptures.  David Castillo Gallery, 3930 NE 2nd Avenue, Suite 201, Miami, FL, 33137. Runs from March 20 to June 14, 2025.

The Centre Pompidou presents Paris Noir, an exhibition highlighting the significant contributions of Black artists from Africa, the Americas, and the Caribbean in shaping modern and postmodern art in France from the 1950s to 2000. Featuring works by 150 artists, many of whom are being showcased in France for the first time, the exhibition explores themes of identity, resistance, and trans-cultural artistic expressions. Runs through June 30, 2025.

Curated by Georgie Sánchez alongside Stamatina Gregory, the exhibition features 19 artists exploring how colonial "pathogenic fictions" have shaped and controlled non-Western, Indigenous, queer, trans, and Black bodies—positioned land and bodies as sites of resistance and transformation

Curated by Sosa Omorogbe, Founder of The 1897, in line with International Women’s Month, this exhibition brings together six exceptional artists whose works delve into the profound interplay of materiality and colour as vehicles of radical transformation. Like alchemists, they transmute raw elements into powerful expressions of identity, heritage, and sanctuary.

The exhibition delves into the visual and material legacies of the colonial and touristic gaze, especially tropes around nature, leisure, the “exotic,” and how they intersect with female bodies — especially those from the Caribbean. Using camouflage, concealment, botanical motifs, print, and garment-like fabric interventions, Minaya reclaims and reframes these tropes. The show also reveals her process, sketches, research, and interim works. 

Mestre Didi: Spiritual Form presents the artist’s major works, highlighting his role as both a priest and visionary sculptor. The exhibition situates his oeuvre within the broader context of Afro-Atlantic art and culture, emphasizing ancestral memory, spiritual symbolism, and ritual practices.

Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys features works by influential artists like Amy Sherald, Esther Mahlangu, and Nick Cave, celebrating their transformative contributions to art and culture. Showcasing the legacies of these iconic figures, the collection highlights their profound impact on the artistic canon and contemporary Black creatives. Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404

Fort Gansevoort presents "The Spiritual World of Haiti," a solo exhibition by renowned Haitian artist Myrlande Constant. The exhibition features her intricate hand-beaded and sequin-embroidered textiles, which reimagine the traditional drape Vodou art form. It showcases Constant's evolution from early graphic works like "Marinette Bois Chèche" to expansive pieces such as "Devosyon Makaya," reflecting her innovative narrative approach and technical mastery. 

Fort Gansevoort presents "The Spiritual World of Haiti," a solo exhibition by renowned Haitian artist Myrlande Constant. The exhibition features her intricate hand-beaded and sequin-embroidered textiles, which reimagine the traditional drape Vodou art form. It showcases Constant's evolution from early graphic works like "Marinette Bois Chèche" to expansive pieces such as "Devosyon Makaya," reflecting her innovative narrative approach and technical mastery.

Manuel Mathieu: Pendulum features the eponymous Haitian-Canadian artist’s award-winning short film. The 11-minute film employs nonlinear storytelling and symbolic imagery to explore themes of freedom and the collective pursuit of liberation. It delves into the balance between historical legacy and an uncertain future, portraying a spiritual journey toward self-mastery and liberation. The exhibition will be at the Saint Louis Art Museum, One Fine Arts Drive, Forest Park, St. Louis, MO 63110.  Runs through November 30, 2025.

Exploring memory, history, and the unseen, Ghost Images by Tyler Mitchell captures the haunting beauty of Georgia’s Jekyll and Cumberland Islands. Through veiled figures, layered compositions, and experimental printing on mirrors and fabric, Mitchell evokes the lingering presence of the past in contemporary Black life. His dreamlike photographs blur time and space, inviting viewers into a world where history remains palpable yet elusive. Gagosian (New York location), 541 West 24th Street, New York.  Runs through April 5, 2025

 Free as They Want to Be: Artists Committed to Memory explores contemporary artists engaging with the past to shape Black futures. Co-curated by Cheryl Finley, Ph.D., and Deborah Willis, Ph.D., the show features works that reclaim history, honor ancestral narratives, and challenge conventional archives through photography, sculpture, video, and mixed media. Ethelbert Cooper Gallery of African & African American Art.  Runs through June 30, 2025.

Lina Iris Viktor's "Red Season" exhibition showcases eight mixed-media works that delve into the intersections of time, culture, and human experience. Drawing on a diverse array of influences, including ancient symbols and motifs, Viktor's compositions are constructed from materials such as 24-karat gold, jute fiber, banana yarn, and silk. Salon 94 at 3 E 89th St, New York, NY, 10128. Runs through March 29, 2025.

The Annual Florida Highwaymen Exhibition is a highly anticipated gathering that celebrates the artistry, history, and cultural impact of the Florida Highwaymen. Known for their distinctive, vibrant landscapes of Florida’s natural scenery, this group of African American artists broke barriers in the 1950s and beyond, gaining recognition for their self-taught talents and entrepreneurial spirit. This exhibition brings together collectors, enthusiasts, and the artists themselves for a weekend honoring their contributions to Florida's art history.

it's a fine thing curated by Katherine Simóne Reynolds, explores the rich and often overlooked landscape of the Black Midwest, including the Rust Belt. Featuring works by artists such as Elizabeth Catlett, Kara Walker, Beauford Delaney, Betye Saar, Sonya Clark, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Mitchell Squire, Helen LaFrance, and Reynolds herself, the exhibition challenges conventional narratives and celebrates the resilience and creativity of Black Midwestern artists. Stanley Museum of Art, 160 West Burlington Street, Iowa City, IA 52242. Runs February 13, 2025 to July 20, 2025.

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Blending humor and cultural critique, Situation Comedy by Derrick Adams explores the nuances of Black joy and resilience through the lens of television sitcoms. With bold colors, faceted compositions, and fabric collages, Adams depicts figures engaged in leisure, subtly reflecting on the impact of pop culture on identity and perception. His works capture moments of both comedy and contemplation, highlighting the ways Black life is shaped and represented in mainstream media. Gagosian at 17–19 Davies Street, London W1K 3DE. Runs through March 29, 2025

The Montclair Art Museum presents Nanette Carter: A Question of Balance, the first major museum survey of the esteemed artist's nearly five-decade career. Running from February 8 through July 6, 2025, the exhibition features 46 works that explore Carter's innovative use of abstraction to address themes of social justice, cultural identity, and the complexities of contemporary life

This monumental exhibition showcases approximately 20 works by Angolan artist Nelo Teixeira, blending self-taught naïve art, Art Brut, and sociopolitical narratives. Utilizing discarded materials like cans, fabrics, and scrap metal, Teixeira's art critically examines Angola's human and social conditions, highlighting themes of precariousness, resilience, and memory. "THIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE" Gallery, Rua da Emenda 72, 1200-169 Lisbon, Portugal. Runs through March 21, 2025

 An Uncommon Thread showcases ten contemporary UK-based artists who challenge traditional materials and techniques to explore themes of memory, identity, and cultural storytelling. Through repurposed objects, adapted craft traditions, and innovative textures, the works in this exhibition weave together personal and collective narratives.  Hauser & Wirth (Somerset), Durslade Farm, Dropping Ln, Bruton BA10 0NL, United Kingdom. Runs through April 2, 2025.

 An Uncommon Thread showcases ten contemporary UK-based artists who challenge traditional materials and techniques to explore themes of memory, identity, and cultural storytelling. Through repurposed objects, adapted craft traditions, and innovative textures, the works in this exhibition weave together personal and collective narratives.  Hauser & Wirth (Somerset), Durslade Farm, Dropping Ln, Bruton BA10 0NL, United Kingdom. Runs through April 2, 2025.

Bozar presents "When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting," a landmark exhibition originally conceived by the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) in Cape Town. On view from February 7 through August 10, 2025, the exhibition showcases over 150 works by approximately 120 artists from Africa and its global diaspora. Organized into six thematic sections: The Everyday, Joy & Revelry, Repose, Sensuality, Spirituality, and Triumph and Emancipation, the exhibition offers a nuanced exploration of Black life and thought, emphasizing the resilience and political significance of Black joy.

 Noah Davis's first retrospective in the UK presents visionary paintings and community-driven projects that redefined contemporary art before his untimely passing in 2015.  His painterly innovations and dreamlike compositions blended realism and abstraction and captured intimate moments of Black life, infusing nostalgia, mystery, and quiet resistance.  Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS.  Runs through May 11, 2025.

The Figge Art Museum presents "Myrlande Constant: DRAPO," a solo exhibition showcasing 17 of Constant's intricately crafted drapo, or Vodou flags, some spanning over seven feet. These vibrant, large-scale works depict Lwa—spirit entities central to Vodou beliefs—demonstrating Constant's innovative approach to this traditional Haitian art form.

The Figge Art Museum presents "Myrlande Constant: DRAPO," a solo exhibition showcasing 17 of Constant's intricately crafted drapo, or Vodou flags, some spanning over seven feet. These vibrant, large-scale works depict Lwa—spirit entities central to Vodou beliefs—demonstrating Constant's innovative approach to this traditional Haitian art form.

This solo exhibition honors the legacy of Purvis Young, showcasing rarely seen works from the collection of Martin Siskind, a close friend and long-time supporter of the artist. Young's art, deeply rooted in Miami's Overtown neighborhood, reflects themes of urban life, spirituality, and social justice. Pan American Art Projects, 274 NE 67th St, Miami, FL 33138. Runs through March 22, 2025

Renowned for his raw, expressive paintings on found materials, Purvis Young captured the struggles and spirit of Miami’s Overtown community. His works blend spirituality, social commentary, and historical memory, depicting themes of liberation, perseverance, and divine intervention. Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, 325 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654. Runs through March 30, 2025

The 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair returns to Marrakech, showcasing a curated selection of contemporary artworks by emerging and established artists from Africa and its diaspora. The fair will be held at two venues: La Mamounia, Avenue Bab Jdid, Marrakech 40040, Morocco, and DaDa, 2 Place Jemaa El Fna, Marrakech Medina 40000, Morocco. Public opening hours are Saturday, February 1, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and Sunday, February 2, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. 

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​The Ulrich Museum of Art at Wichita State University presents "Devan Shimoyama: Rituals," an immersive solo exhibition showcasing 25 mixed media works that reimagine the Black American and queer experiences as fantastical and ornate, utilizing rich textures and decorative materials. Runs from January 23 to June 14, 2025.​

Debra Cartwright’s Bodies of Water explores Black geographies and maternal histories through fluid, ethereal paintings that examine migration, selfhood, and ancestral resilience. Inspired by J.T. Roane’s concept of "Black radical spatial ecology," Cartwright reflects on how waterways in Virginia—where her maternal lineage originates—served as sites of survival, healing, and passage. Through layered washes of watercolor and intimate compositions, she traces connections between past and present, honoring the narratives of Black women across generations. Welancora Gallery at 33 Herkimer Street

Brooklyn, New York 11216. Runs through March 20, 2025

Overture is the latest exhibition showcasing new works by Philly native, Mark Thomas Gibson, that invite reflection on current events and envision systemic change for the common good. The showcase includes selections from Gibson's Town Crier series, five large-scale paintings, and his first hand-drawn animated film, accompanied by an original score by Emily Wells. Berman Museum of Art, 601 E. Main Street, Collegeville, PA 19426. Runs from January 23 to April 6, 2025. 

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An Unmistakable Softness is a solo exhibition of new paintings by Jamaican visual artist Leasho Johnson. Created during a three-month residency in New Providence, this body of work explores the interplay of Johnson’s formulaic painting techniques and the tropical environment. Grounded in his signature aesthetics and textures, the collection features pieces from his ongoing "Anansi" and portrait series, reflecting the temporal effects of the Bahamian landscape on his artistic process. TERN Gallery, Mahogany Hill, Western Road, Nassau, The Bahamas. Runs from January 23rd to March 8, 2025.

​The Swiss Institute in New York presents "Close-Up," the first U.S. institutional exhibition by multidisciplinary artist Deborah-Joyce Holman.This exhibition features a single-channel film that intimately portrays a Black woman's engagement in everyday domestic activities, challenging traditional narratives of representation.Runs from January 22 to April 20, 2025.​

This group exhibition features nine interdisciplinary artists—Mirtha Dermisache, Noémie Goudal, Sky Hopinka, Anna Hulačová, Marguerite Humeau, Bronwyn Katz, Kat Lyons, Yukultji Napangati, and Emmanuel Van der Auwera—exploring the profound connection between beings and their environments. Through diverse mediums such as drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, installation, and film, the exhibition delves into themes of indigenous knowledge, ecological research, and the reimagining of our relationship with the living world. 

Agape, the latest solo exhibition by Ethiopian artist Tizta Berhanu, explores the transcendent and unconditional nature of divine love. The exhibition showcases Berhanu’s evocative oil paintings, known for their cool tones and swirling compositions. These works delve into emotional depths, fostering a universal sense of connection and compassion.  Addis Fine Art at Bole Atlas, NOAH Centrum Building, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Runs from January 3 to March 9, 2025.

"Imagining Black Diasporas: 21st-Century Art and Poetics" explores aesthetic connections among 60 artists from Africa, Europe, and the Americas, examining nearly 25 years of Black artistic production. Featuring approximately 70 works—including painting, sculpture, photography, works on paper, and time-based media—the exhibition is organized into four themes: speech and silence, movement and transformation, imagination, and representation. Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036. Runs through August 3, 2025. 

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Miami MoCAAD’s Mobile Interactive Mural Exhibition, "Telling Overtown Stories, Saying Their Names", is a community-centered public art project that celebrates the history, culture, and resilience of Overtown while honoring individuals whose legacies continue to shape Miami. Through art and technology, the exhibition invites audiences to engage with layered narratives that merge history, storytelling, and digital interactivity.

Blending spirituality, colonial history, and personal memory, Brazilian artist Antonio Obá explores Afro-Brazilian identity through evocative paintings and sculptures. His work challenges historical narratives, reinterpreting religious iconography and cultural symbolism to reflect on power, resistance, and the body as a site of transformation. Centre d’Art Contemporain Genève, Rue des Vieux-Grenadiers 10, 1205 Genève, Switzerland. Runs through February 16th, 2025

Renowned for her compelling portraits, Amy Sherald presents nearly 50 luminous paintings, including her iconic depictions of Michelle Obama and Breonna Taylor. Through her distinctive grayscale technique and vibrant backdrops, Sherald captures the quiet power of everyday individuals, challenging conventional narratives of American identity. Runs through March 9, 2025.

Blending spirituality, colonial history, and personal memory, Brazilian artist Antonio Obá explores Afro-Brazilian identity through evocative paintings and sculptures. His work challenges historical narratives, reinterpreting religious iconography and cultural symbolism to reflect on power, resistance, and the body as a site of transformation. Centre d’Art Contemporain Genève, Rue des Vieux-Grenadiers 10, 1205 Genève, Switzerland. Runs through February 16th, 2025

Rotimi Fani-Kayode celebrates the life and legacy of one of the most influential Nigerian photographers in the 20th century. The exhibition will unveil new photographs from Kayode’s short, but esteemed career, exploring themes of black queer self-expression and the performative aspects of identity. Autograph, Rivington Place, London. 

West Africa’s largest international art fair returns for its ninth edition in the Nigerian metropolis of Lagos. This year’s fair follows the theme “Promised Lands” where artists envision a future where Africa and the African Diaspora fulfill their aspirations to their hearts’ content. The Federal Palace, 6-8 Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. Runs from October 31 through November 3, 2024.

Exploring the intersection of memory, history, and erasure, multidisciplinary artist Crystal Z Campbell presents Currents 124, a thought-provoking exhibition that interrogates the limits of historical archives. Through film, painting, and found objects, Campbell reclaims overlooked narratives, particularly those tied to Black and Indigenous histories, challenging viewers to reconsider what is remembered and forgotten. Saint Louis Art Museum (SLAM), 1 Fine Arts Dr, St. Louis, MO 63110. Runs through May 5, 2025

"Wish This Was Real" by Tyler Mitchell extends its’ stay in Europe into 2025 with a new showing in Finland’s capital. The exhibition showcases Mitchell’s decade-long photography work highlighting Black life through themes of beauty, identity, and community. The Finnish Museum of Photography

Kaapelitehdas, Kaapeliaukio 3, 00180 Helsinki, Finland. Runs through February 23rd, 2025.

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