Black Art Culture

Photos by Monique Brinkman Hill, Vanessa Hobson and LeeAnn Trotter The opening reception of the 2nd Annual Black History Festival of the Arts, presented by the OH Art Foundation, was a celebratory gathering of artists, writers, curators, collectors, and cultural leaders in a shared affirmation of Black creative legacy. The evening marked the debut of  Rephrases en Noir , a group exhibition that situates Black literature as both source material and conceptual foundation for

Artist Dennis Shelton Shelton, based in Yonkers, creates assemblages, collages, and mixed media artwork.  Every Black artist must answer the questions posed in this call for reflection for him/herself. This is my answer. This will be the first full year without my grandmother, Mineola D. Smith, who spent her entire 103 years in Alabama and was on that same historic bus with Rosa Parks. Once I realized my grandmother was no longer here, it made me reflect on her generation. I

Artist Reggie McFly McFly’s work captures ‘extraordinary people living ordinary lives’. His work “Goldie” shows the defiant pose of Goldie Williams who was charged with vagrancy, a broad law used to criminalize the poor and marginalized.  Honestly my expectation for this year is to have none. I want to continue sharing and embracing the world with my heart, without worrying about how the work is received, and trusting that it will find the right people and the right places.

Artist Kevin Williams and Dontae T. Muse at the Pigmented Black Fine Art Faire. Muse , based in Newark, NJ, is the founder of Black Art Gallery Tour (BAG) Tour and Black art advocate. by Dontae Muse If I could condense my predictions for the Black art market heading into 2026 into one sentence, it might look like this: Black collectors will stop asking for permission from white markets and develop our own art spaces dedicated to our artists. What’s unfolding isn’t a trend, a

Goldie by  artist Reggie McFly Pigment International continues its year-long editorial focus on the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S.  America 250 – We ARE The People . This initiative centers Black artists as vital narrators of the nation’s past, present, and future, highlighting how contemporary artists are interpreting the anniversary at a moment when the contributions of people of color and immigrants risk being minimized or erased from the historical record.

“I’m not sure that I can predict, but I always hope that we continue to build together a strong ecosystem around the artists and their work. My hope is that institutions see us, the galleries, as sources who might be small but are mighty in their practice, knowledge of art historically, currently and for the future. Thank you for always including me and Knowhere in the work you are doing to fortify our art community!” Val Francis – Knowhere Gallery, Martha’s Vineyard

Art by Ekwelum Nnaemeka Through rigorous storytelling and cultural commentary, Pigment International educates, advocates, and advances the Black art ecosystem by amplifying the voices of artists, collectors, curators, gallerists, institutions, and cultural leaders shaping Black art culture today.   In 2026, Pigment International will mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States with a year-long editorial focus titled  America 250 – We Are The People . This