African American Art Museum Atlanta

African American Museum Atlanta Ga

The Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia in Athens has appointed Shawnya L. Harris as its first Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson Curator of African American and African Diasporic Art.

Harris, who began work in mid-August, came from North Carolinas Elizabeth City State University, where she taught courses in African-American art, 20th-century art and art appreciation as well as survey courses on the history of Western art.

She also taught at UNC Chapel Hill and Middle Tennessee State University, and served as director of the University Galleries at North Carolina A& T State University for eight years.

Harris has organized exhibitions focused on artists John Wilson, James McMillan, Joyce Wellman, Joseph Holston and Richard Hunt.

The Thompsons made the initial gift toward the endowment that funds Harris position when they donated a major collection of works of art by African-American artists to the museum in 2012.

Both husband and wife have ties to UGA. Larry Thompson, a former U.S. deputy attorney general based in Atlanta, rejoined the law school at UGA this fall as the John A. Sibley Professor in Corporate and Business Law. Brenda Thompson, a longtime arts patron, is chair-elect of the Georgia Museum of Arts Board of Advisors.

• Lincoln s Haircut Chair. Many of the exhibits in the Niagara Wax Museum of History date from its opening in 1968 – roughly…

Travis St Nw Atlanta Ga 30318

One of Atlantas newest museums, the Trap Music Museum, is an interactive experience that uses art to showcase the rich culture of trap music, one of the most popular genres within rap music. The Trap Museum speaks directly to the citys history with impacting culture, capturing both Atlantas stronghold on the hip-hop scene as well as the burgeoning voices of artists who were influenced by the music. The museums art exhibitions pay homage to the inspiring trials and triumphs of todays biggest trap music stars like Atlanta natives T.I., 2 Chainz, and Migos, and also provides a platform for emerging graphic and visual artists who are influenced by the music and culture.

In addition to opening its doors to up-and-coming artists to showcase their artwork, the museum also hosts an escape room and hip-hop centered exhibitions throughout the year with original artwork and photography directly shaped by Atlanta culture.

To cut the line for this extremely popular attraction, book your tickets in advance online. Heighten your visit by visiting during the museums champagne assisted Trappy Hour that happens every Thursday.

Late 20th/early 21st Century

Midnight GolferEugene J. Martin,

Kara Walker, a contemporary American artist, is known for her exploration of race, gender, sexuality, violence and identity in her artworks. Walker’s silhouette images work to bridge unfinished folklore in the Antebellum South and are reminiscent of the earlier work of Harriet Powers. Her nightmarish yet fantastical images incorporate a cinematic feel. In 2007, Walker was listed among Time Magazine‘s “100 Most Influential People in The World, Artists and Entertainers”. Textile artists are part of African-American art history. According to the 2010 Quilting in America industry survey, there are 1.6 million quilters in the United States. One historic non profit organization with several members who are quilters and fiber artists is Women of Visions, Inc. located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. WOV Inc artists past and present work in a variety of mediums. Those who have shown internationally include Renee Stout and Tina Williams Brewer.

• Painter Edward Mitchell Bannister, “Pleasant Pastures,” 1887.

• Painter Grafton Tyler Brown, “Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone National Park,” 1887.

• Sculptor Edmonia Lewis, “Old Arrow Maker,” 1872.

• Painter Henry Ossawa Tanner, “The Annunciation,” 1898.

You May Like: National Bible Museum Washington Dc

Art As Protest And Power

This display created by

Art as Protest and Power

Clark Atlanta University Museum is home to one of the worlds foremost collections of African American art. The museums historically significant works document social and political concerns that have defined black experience. Beyond observation and documentation, the collection reflects each artists unique cultural, aesthetic, and political sensibilities.

In 1942, Atlanta University began to acquire artwork through an annual national juried competition. Initiated by painted and activist Hale Woodruff, the Atlanta University Annual Exhibition of Paintings, Sculpture, and Prints by Negro Artists of America lasted for 28 years. At the opening address, Harlem Renaissance writer Alain Locke described the show as part of a movement:

One of the ultimate goals of the whole art movement among Negroes is to encourage a healthy and representational art of the people with its roots in its own soil rather than a sophisticated studio art divorced from the racial feeling and interests of people.

The works collected represent African American artistic responses to their most ardent struggles. One of these is the quest for full citizenship. A central subject is almost always the manner in which their rights were denied and the contributions they nevertheless made to the American nation.

Ardon Bar-HamaGeorge S. Blumenthal

International African American Museum

to honor the untold stories of the African American journey at one of our countrys most sacred sites.

The International African American Museum will explore cultures and knowledge systems retained and adapted by Africans in the Americas, and the diverse journeys and achievements of these individuals and their descendants in South Carolina, the United States, and throughout the African Diaspora.

Don’t Miss: South Street Seaport Museum Nyc

List Of Museums In Atlanta

This list of museums in Atlanta is a list of museums, defined for this context as institutions that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Also included are non-profit and university art galleries. Museums that exist only in cyberspace are not included.

This list includes museums in the City of Atlanta and the immediately adjacent communities of Druid Hills, and Hapeville at Atlanta’s airport. For museums in the rest of Metro Atlanta and the rest of the state of Georgia, see List of museums in Georgia .

Centennial Olympic Park Dr Sw Atlanta Ga 30313

ZuCot Gallery is the largest African American fine arts gallery in the southeastern United States, so its only appropriate that Atlanta is where the space is located. ZuCot represents artists from all over the country and hosts a rotating collection of modern & contemporary pieces in a variety of mediums, curating a broad range of work from seasoned creatives and artists on the rise.

ZuCot is known for its tastefully crafted exhibitions that speak to the nuances within every corner of the Black experience. Over 95% of the art on display at the gallery has been crafted by the hands of Black artists a number the gallery is happy to maintain.

Thankfully, if you happen to fall in love with one of the pieces hanging within the gallery, you might be lucky enough to also take it home with you, as the works in ZuCot are generally available for purchase.

Recommended Reading: Paris Modern Art Museum Pompidou

National Civil Rights Museum

The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis is housed in part in the Lorraine Motel, the site of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968. The museum features the room where King spent his final hours after the assassination but also details the history of slavery and civil rights in the United States.

Harriet Tubman Historical Park

Designated as a National Historical Park in 2017, Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn, New York preserves several important sites associated with the Underground Railroad conductor. Visitors can visit Tubmans gravesite, tour the grounds of her former home and visit the church she attended for more than 20 years.

Also Check: Hotels Near Boeing Museum Of Flight

Center For Civil And Human Rights

Opened in the cradle of the civil rights movement, Atlanta, Georgia in 2014, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights focuses on both permanent and temporary exhibitions which tell the history of the civil rights movement in the United States. The permanent collection tackles the history of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and ’60s, global human rights and the personal artifacts and papers of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Atlanta University Center

Although the West End campuses of Atlantas historically black universities arent necessarily a must-see attraction, they do include a few gems for art lovers and African American history buffs. Clark Atlanta University Art Galleries features ambitious murals by Hale Woodruff and more than 600 works from the schools historical collection of sculpture and paintings. Close by, the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art features works by and about women of the African diaspora.

Read Also: Museum Of Western Art Kerrville

African American Arts And Heritage In Atlanta

Atlanta has been called the crown jewel in the story of black America for good reason.

The citys distinction as a crossroads for equal opportunity dates back generations, due in no small part to the concentration of historically black colleges and long legacy of African American entrepreneurship and innovation. This unique heritage is also a major draw for tourism. Almost a million people annually visit the burial site of Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta.

Each January, the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change and nearby Ebenezer Baptist Church host a full week of programming leading up to the federal MLK holiday and remain busy during Februarys observance of Black History Month. The National Black Arts Festival, founded in 1987, has expanded beyond its traditional July programming to produce educational and cultural events year-round. No matter what the calendar says, its always Black History Month in Atlanta.

Two Centuries Of Black American Art

In 1976 the Los Angeles County Museum of Art opened Two Centuries of Black American Art as its major exhibition for the American bicentennial year. It was the first comprehensive survey of African American art which, following its premier at LACMA, toured three other major U.S. art institutions. The premise was to acknowledge the work of black artists during the period of 1750 to 1950, whose contributions to American art had largely been neglected. Featuring over 200 works and 63 artists, the show included painting, sculpture, drawing, graphics, crafts and decorative arts.

In 1976 the Los Angeles County Museum of Art opened Two Centuries of Black American Art as its major exhibition for the American bicentennial year. It was the first comprehensive survey of African American art which, following its premier at LACMA, toured three other major U.S. art institutions. The premise was to acknowledge the work of black artists during the period of 1750 to 1950, whose contributions to American art had largely been neglected. Featuring over 200 works and 63 artists, the show included painting, sculpture, drawing, graphics, crafts and decorative arts.

Organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Guest curator: David C. Driskell, chairman of the Department of Art at Fisk University. Research associate: Dr. Leonard Simon.

The exhibition was made possible by grants from Philip Morris Incorporated and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

• Ahmanson Building

Don’t Miss: Hollywood Wax Museum Branson Tickets

Gullah/geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor

Extending from Wilmington, North Carolina to Jacksonville, Florida, the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor is home to the Gullah and the Geechee people, descendants of slaves from West and Central Africa. To learn more about the heritage and history of the area, visit the Geechee Kunda Museum in Riceboro, Georgia or book one of the ranger-led tours at Cumberland Island National Seashore to explore historic sites along the coast.

Celebratingblack Art In Atlanta

Atlantas Black art scene is one of the best in the country, and visiting the galleries and museums throughout the city is a great way to get aligned with Atlantas creative pulse. While staples like The High Museum of Art and Museum of Design Atlanta often give space to Black art and design, there are several places in the city to set your eye on the artistic genius within the Black community. Here are three spots that cater exclusively to showcasing thriving talent and amplifying opportunities for new up-and-coming Black artists within Atlantas art scene. These enclaves of art are absolute must-visits for any art buff and speaks to the lasting influence that Atlanta has on the world.

The status and hours of the businesses listed below may vary due to COVID-19. Please check the business website for the most up-to-date information. Please see our disclaimer regarding the accuracy of this information. For more COVID-19 resources, .

Kent Johnsonis the co-founder of the digital platform & award-winning travel company for Black millennials, Black & Abroad, where he not only sheds light on the journeys of expats and travelers of color, he also partners with travel-centric brands to create authentic & organic campaigns for the millennial consumer and crafts group travel experiences to destinations worldwide.

You May Like: National Train Museum Christmas Cards

African Diaspora Art Museum Of Atlanta Showcases Contributions Of Contemporary Black Artists

A museum without walls exploring contemporary art and culture of the African diaspora: thats the mission of theAfrican Diaspora Art Museum of Atlanta or ADAMA. It hosts exhibitions, programs, and artists residencies, aiming to educate and showcase the contributions of Black artists and thinkers throughout the 21st century. FounderFahamu Pecou joined City Lights host Lois Reitzes via Zoom andKomansé Dance Theater creative director and founder Raianna Brown, whose new dance film Permanent: A Couple in Prospect Park will be presented in collaboration with ADAMA at the High Museum.

Pecou described the inspiration for ADAMA, an idea nurtured for several years before its founding. As I began traveling more and more, doing exhibitions and other types of work, I would often find myself really drawn to the similarities that I saw in Black people in my travels throughout the African diaspora, said Pecou. I also felt like in a city, like Atlanta, that touts itself as this Black cultural mecca, we should have an institution that represents that.

Komanse Danse Theater and ADAMA have been involved in collaborations since mid-2020 when they connected in the aftermath of the Black Lives Matter protests. Their original idea to bring Komanse artists and the museum together for a one-time performance has since evolved into the Permanent project.

African American Art In The 20th Century

African American Art in the 20th Century presents forty-three paintings and sculptures by thirty-four African American artists who came to prominence during the period bracketed by the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights movement.

Drawn from the permanent collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, these works range in style from modern abstraction to stained color to the postmodern assemblage of found objects, and their subjects are diverse. Benny Andrews, Ellis Wilson, and William H. Johnson speak to the dignity and resilience of people who work the land. Jacob Lawrence, Frederick Brown, and Thornton Dial, Sr. acknowledge the struggle for economic and civil rights. Sargent Johnson, Loïs Mailou Jones, and Melvin Edwards address the heritage of Africa, and images by Romare Bearden celebrate jazz musicians. Sam Gilliam and Felrath Hines conduct innovative experiments with color and form. This will be the only New York venue for the exhibition.

African American Art in the 20th Century is organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The C.F. Foundation in Atlanta supports the museums traveling exhibition program, Treasures to Go. The William R. Kenan Jr. Endowment Fund provided financial support.

At the Hudson River Museum, this exhibition is supported by the City of Yonkers, Mayor Mike Spano. Additional support is provided by The Mr. and Mrs. Raymond J. Horowitz Foundation for the Arts, Tom and Terry DAuria, and Bevy Smith.

Also Check: Map Of Smithsonian Museums In Washington Dc

National Center For Civil And Human Rights

The latest addition to the growing tourist district surrounding Centennial Olympic Park, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights serves as an worthy complement to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. Interactive exhibitions help to place Kings life and the struggles of the 1960s in a global context.

Camille Olivia Hanks Building 1st Floor 440 Westview Dr Sw Atlanta Ga 30310

Opened in 1996, Spelman College Museum of Fine Art has been an integral seam in the fabric of the Spelman community, centered on displaying works of Black women artists from all levels of career. The museum began actively securing & collecting works by Black women in the 1980s, but its archive of art goes back as far as the 1930s. The collection is a thoughtful highlight to Atlantas art community, and best of all, open to the general public.

Read Also: Bishop Museum Honolulu Free Admission

From Abstract To Fine Art Photography And Historical Displays These Museums Are Unparalleled

Atlanta has become a mecca for black culture.

There are songs, movies, and even a television show that are named for Atlanta. And anyone who has ever visited a cousin in this city or claims “Hotlanta” as their hometown knows that titles like Atlanta and ATL sum up what it is really like to be local.

Cinematic glitz and bustle have migrated over recent years to the city known for being the birthplace of the civil rights movement in America and an oasis where black history, some of the best HBCUs in the country, Southern hospitality, finger-licking food, and black art collide.

Tourists from all over the country, the world, travel to this city to capture Instagrammable pictures of buildings with rich tales breathed into its walls, or get a taste of some of the best shopping the South has to offer.

But as an Atlien myself, I have discovered hidden and underappreciated treasures in this city. In places like Atlanta, if you’re fortunate enough to be able to wander, you’ll live here forever and never stumble upon the same gems twice .

I would personally recommend these five art galleries that host black art to out-of-towners.

1. Hammonds House Museum

The home of former Atlanta physician and art collector, Dr. Otis Thrash Hammonds, has been repurposed as an art gallery which houses some of the best African art the city has to offer.

Hammonds House is located in the historic West End of the city and is open for daily tours, excluding holidays.

2. Arnika Dawkins Gallery