In February of 2022, the Cincinnati Art Museum opened its spring exhibitions, focused on the groundbreaking work of Black artists in the United States: Working Together: The Photographers of the Kamoinge Workshop and David Driskell: Icons of Nature and History.
Featuring portraits of everyday human life, the political realm and the global Black experience, Working Together is the first major museum exhibition about the Kamoinge Workshop, an African American photographers’ collective founded in New York City in 1963. Spanning several decades from the 1950s onward, David Driskell features a diverse body of painting and media, “combining keen observations of America with the imagery and aesthetic innovations of the African diaspora.”
Alongside these exhibitions, CAM launched The Black Futures Series, supported by LPK, GBBN, Arts Midwest GIG Fund, the Ohio Arts Council and more. A multifaceted mix of happenings and conversations, The Black Futures Series welcomes Black artist voices—both aspiring and established—to engage in meaningful ways that create community and advance Black culture: “building mentor networks, creating and occupying creative platforms within and beyond arts institutions, sharing histories, and nurturing artistic growth and excellence.”
“Now more than ever, art can inspire us, challenge us, console us, give us hope, “says Liz Grubow, VP, Managing Creative Director at LPK and a member of the museum’s Board of Trustees.
“These exhibits and The Black Futures Series brings us an opportunity to experience a wealth of creative expression. It allows us to see with new eyes, and to stimulate new conversations within ourselves and with the community. It is an opportunity that should not be missed.”
The Black Futures Series is designed with four main areas of collective action, each with multiple ways and dates to engage. To see upcoming events, check out the schedule here.
After the conclusion of the spring exhibitions and programs on May 15th, Cincinnati photographer Asa Featherstone will publish a commissioned artist’s book documenting the collaborations.
For more information on the exhibitions and tickets, head here.