The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is celebrating Black History Month throughout February with an array of exhibitions, art installations, and special events honoring African American artists.
The works on view range from early American to modern and contemporary Black artists, including American paintings from the 20th century such as “Town of Hope” by Archibald John Motley Jr. and “Catfish Row” by Jacob Lawrence, and from the 21st century such as “Screaming into the Ether” by Gary Simmons.
A site-specific installation of ceramic sculptures by Chicago-based multidisciplinary artist Theaster Gates will also be on view, arranged on and around a steel plinth.
Special programs for Black History Month include an open studio art workshop led by artist Hamilton Glass; an African American Read-In program in the galleries; a curator’s talk with Dr. Ndubuisi Ezeluomba, the museum’s curator of African art, about the recent loan of an African sculpture to the Democratic Republic of Congo; and the s...