The National Museum of African American History and Culture debuted two new exhibits focused on abstraction in Black American art earlier this month.
Titled “Revelation: A Journey into Abstraction” and “Reset: Abstraction Embodied in Design,” the exhibits focus on abstract art by Black artists from the mid-20th century to 2026 as well as abstract objects, including rugs and chairs, created by Black designers.
Artists whose works are on display in “Revelation” include Gordon Parks, Simone Leigh, Alma Thomas and Howardena Pindell. Approximately 41 works by 38 artists make up the exhibit. “Revelation” is segmented into five parts, with themes such as “The Shape of Sound,” “Dreams Deferred,” and “Transcendent Visions.”
Meanwhile, “Reset” focuses on the African diaspora’s impact on design. Artists celebrated in the exhibit include Naudline Pierre, Folayemi Wilson, Hadiya Williams, Peter L. Robinson and Norman Teague.
The differences in the mediums in which the art style is used is to encourage reflection from visitors on how abstraction is viewed in their lives.
“Abstraction has long been a powerful tool for African American artists to express memory, resistance and imagination beyond constraint,” said the acting director of NMAAHC, Shanita Brackett, per a press release. “These exhibitions show how that language continues to evolve across canvas, clay and contemporary design.”
For many decades, Black artists in the abstract art movement were underrecognized for their work within the period of artistic expression. In the 1920s, artist Charles C. Dawson helped design an exhibit for the Art Institute of Chicago that included over 100 artworks centered on abstraction and other art forms.
In 1934, Sargent Claude Johnson became one of the earliest adopters of the art style, creating abstract artwork with shapes and African culture. These pieces include the oil painting “Breakfast” and the terracotta sculpture “Lovers.”
By 1939, other artists, such as Samuel Joseph Brown, adopted Abstractionism in their work for institutions such as the Baltimore Museum of Art. In the 1940s, artist Norman Lewis set the foundation for Black artists within the Abstract movement.
His art was famed for its connection with musical rhythms of famous musical styles, including bebop and jazz, as well as spiritual themes. During the 1950s, his work increasingly depicted social injustices, including systemic violence and racism.
By the 1970s, abstract art became more popular and more Black artists started to experiment with the art style. Artists such as Mary Lovelace O’Neal and Melvin Edwards made their debut. Alma Thomas, who by then had been an active artist experimenting with abstract art for decades, also became the first Black woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum.
Today, this art style continues to thrive, serving as a form of Black expressionism. Popular modern-day abstract artists include Simone Leigh, Lindsay Adams and Mark Bradford.
