Cultural Commentary

Artist Robert Lewis Clark with his work '44" Pigment International’s  Glory! Glory!  opening on  Friday, February 20, 2026  at the  Zhou B Art Center  in Chicago, is a civic-centered exhibition foregrounding Black artistic perspectives on the imagery and symbolism of the U.S. flag. The exhibition encourages reflection and dialogue through both representational and interpretive approaches to this iconic national symbol. ( Eventbrite ) A central highlight is  Robert Lewis Clark

Tyanna Buie is working on her installation, Be the Change!  for the Obama Presidential Center. Photo Kaylee Pugliese/Courtesy RISD The soon-to-open  Obama Presidential Center in Chicago  is fast becoming one of the most ambitious public art programs in recent U.S. history, blending civic dialogue with artistic expression across its 19.3-acre campus. Set to open in  spring 2026 , the Center has now commissioned works by more than  25 leading contemporary artists , including  M

Dontae Muse. Work by Danielle Scott Between the Instagram carousel, the group chat exhibition announcement, and Chat GPT, the word “curator” slipped its shoes off and made itself comfortable. Too comfortable, maybe. Let me be clear before the think pieces begin to make themselves: everybody can curate. We all do it daily. We curate playlists, dinner parties, mood boards, timelines, and digital selves. Selection is human. Taste is personal. Storytelling is a natural human pres

Monique Brinkman-Hill Monique Brinkman Hill Brinkman Hill is the executive director of the country’s oldest, continuously operating art centers in the country. Founded in 1940, during the WPA, SSCAC,'s mission is to conserve, preserve and promote the legacy and future of Black art and artists.    "As I reflect on 2026, I see it as a year of possibility—one that carries the potential for transformation. I anticipate that the work emerging from this period will respond to this

Christina Steed, Rachel Dukes, and Patricia Andrews-Keenan.  Work by Delita Martin on the cover of Beyond Frames Exhibition, where works from the collections of Steed and Andrews-Keenan were featured. The South Side Community Art Center (SSCAC ) has announced the release of two important new publications that further its legacy as a steward of Black cultural history and contemporary thought in Chicago. Developed in conjunction with recent public programs, both books center B

Artist Sonja Henderson SCULPTOR SONJA HENDERSON'S POETIC MESSAGE TO 2026. Henderson is an award-winning, Chicago-based sculptor, educator, and community organizer. She is part of the group exhibition The Fierce Urgency of Now, opening Monday, January 19th at IManifest Studio Gallery, 2755 W. 63rd St., Chicago.   Artwork - Mystic and the Magpie, 36 X 78 X 48, Mixed Media: Palms, vintage beads, feathers, found objects, digital monitor, carved hands and birds. We are the people

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 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