The Phillips Collection presents African Modernism in America, 1947–67, the first major traveling exhibition to examine the connections between modern African artists and American patrons, artists, and cultural organizations amid the interlocking histories of civil rights, decolonization, and the Cold War. The show reveals the transcontinental networks that challenged academic assumptions about African art in the United States and thereby encouraged American engagement with African artists as contemporaries. The exhibition will be on view from October 7, 2023–January 7, 2024.
This important exhibition provides a contextualized look into meaningful exchanges among artists who were united by shared aesthetic and political concerns,” says Vradenburg Director and CEO Jonathan P. Binstock. “Its presentation in Washington, DC has added significance given the pivotal role of Howard University, and other HBCUs, in providing early institutional support to African artists in the US. Ultimately, it is an important opportunity to learn about the contributions of a variety of African and African American artists to the history and lexicon of modernism, from those who have long been celebrated by the Phillips to those deserving greater recognition.”
Ranging from paintings and sculptures to works on paper, the exhibited artworks exemplify the experimentation and diverse artistic practices that emerged in Africa from the 1940s through the 1960s. The exhibition draws primarily from Fisk University’s remarkable collection of gifts from the Harmon Foundation, an American organization devoted to the cross-continental support and promotion of African and African American artists
“The exhibition considers the historical and contemporary socio-political contexts during a transformative moment that shaped the collecting and exhibiting of postcolonial African art in the United States,” says Camille Brown, Assistant Curator at The Phillips Collection and lead curator for the presentation in Washington.
EXHIBITION PROGRAMMING
Phillips Music
In the upcoming 2023/24 season of Phillips Music’s Sunday Concert series, the museum’s long-standing international chamber music program, three performances highlight African composers and musicians: Andile Khumalo and Ensemble Dal Niente (November 12) as part of the program’s Leading International Composers series, solo pianist Rebeca Omordia (November 26), and jazz superstar Richard Bona with the Asante Trio (December 14).
Curator Tour
October 19 at 6:30 pm
Co-curator Perrin M. Lathrop leads an in-gallery tour of the exhibition.
Phillips after 5: Afrobeat
November 2 at 5 pm
Enjoy an evening of Afrobeat-inspired music, art activities, and more.
Films Screening
November 16 at 6:30 pm
Join us for a rare screening of acclaimed director William Greaves’s documentary film The First World Festival of Negro Arts (1966) and prolific painter Aaron Douglas’s film A Thing of Beauty (1966) about Fisk University. A reception featuring cuisine inspired by the African Diaspora follows.
Guided Meditation
December 13 at 12:45 pm
A free, 30-minute virtual meditation led by local yoga teacher Aparna Sadananda and a spotlight talk led by a Phillips Educator highlighting a work from the exhibition.
Panel Discussion
January 7 at 2 pm
To mark the end of the exhibition, join us for a conversation between esteemed African art historians.
1600 21st Street, NW
Washington D.C. 20009
202 387 2151
