Spoken : Portraits in Black

 June 24 - September 25, 2016  - Spoken: Portraits in Black is part of an exhibition program dedicated to showcasing works of art by African-American artists, primarily from the CMA’s collection, which changes approximately every three months. 

This second iteration focuses on the powerful art form of portraiture. While many people think of portraiture as an individual sitting to have their image captured on canvas by an artist, the art form is actually broader and much more complex. Indeed, portraits have the ability to help an individual transcend what our eyes can normally see in others. With Spoken: Portraits in Black, Consulting Curator Porchia Moore orchestrates a conversation via portraits about the ways in which African-American artists depict the lived experience of black people. In addition, there is the larger goal of connecting African-American artists’ practice of portraiture with the legacy and history of portraiture practiced throughout the continent of Africa and the diaspora (the migration of Africans to other parts of the world).