Pigment Salon Talk Glory! Glory! at Adler University. From left Phyliss North, Patricia Andrews-Keenan, Jane Carpenter-Rock, Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM); State Rep. Kimberly du Buclet; Lisa Coleman, PhD. President of Adler University; Artist D. Lammie-Hanson; Patrica Jones Blessman, PhD.; Valerie Francis, Knowhere Gallery, and Allison Casselberry. Spring Art Week Chicago 2026: A Roundup   We go deeper on specifics in later issues — this week, let the photos do the

Martha Wade at William Blair, her 3D chair, and work by Briana McNeil Scott. On Wednesday, at  William Blair ,  Martha Wade  debuted not just new work, but her work took new form when she created a chair. Wade's calm, consistency and commitment to community shone through in her interview with Blair’s curator Isidora K. Lagos under the theme Expressive Journeys: The panel of self-taught artists also included Grace Federighi, Briana McNeil, and O’Neil Scott.

Sonja Henderson and Sadie Wood's Lakefront installation. Sadie Woods and Sonja Henderson’s We Still Here is a temporal monument response situated along Chicago’s lakefront at Lake Shore Drive and Belmont, in the shadow of General Philip Sheridan. The installation reclaims space through an evocative assembly of bones, metal, and feathers, honoring layered histories while challenging dominant narratives. A diverse crowd gathered in celebration of spirituality and environmental

Ra Joy, Executive Director Bronzeville Center For The Arts (BCA) This year America will celebrate its semi-quincentennial and the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. As the nation reflects on its founding, it also finds itself wrestling with fundamental questions around what we choose to remember, who we choose to honor, what we collectively celebrate, and why it all matters.  With America’s 250th birthday rapidly approaching, the stakes are high. Poli

Photo by Barrington Darius When Frieze tapped Essence Harden to curate the Profile section of Expo Chicago 2026, it wasn't simply a curatorial appointment — it was a statement about what the fair intends to become. Multi-generational Bay Area roots, an academic foundation in African Diaspora Studies, and a practice built on long-term relationships with artists: Harden arrives in Chicago as someone who understands what it means to belong to a place before you've ever lived t

By Dontae Muse  When you think of the Biennale, you might think of Venice. I wish. This one was nearly chosen, except for the lack of water. I hopped over the water, the Hudson River, to experience the Whitney Biennial 2026 during the preview at the Whitney Museum of American Art, before it opened to the public, courtesy of my membership. I have to say that observing the exhibition in its quiet state, before the reactions unfold, allows for a deeper appreciation of its const

Danny Dunson, DuSable Black History Museum & Education Center, in conversation with Bisa Butler at Soho House On a recent evening at Soho House Chicago, curator Erica S. Hubbard created something rare — an intimate space for Chicagoans to sit with one of contemporary art's most powerful voices. Textile artist Bisa Butler joined curator D anny Dunson for a conversation that felt less like a formal program and more like an exchange between old friends, candid, unscripted, and a

Robert Lewis Clark's '44' is available now On a cold February morning in 2007, Barack Obama stood in Springfield, Illinois and set history in motion. From that day, millions of Americans became archivists — clipping headlines, saving programs, holding onto anything that might one day prove they witnessed the moment. Lura Satterfield Shareef was one of them. After the historic 2008 election, she handed her son every clipping, every fragment of that momentous chapter and said

From top left: Pigment founders Patricia Andrews-Keenan and Phyliss North, work by Candace Hunter, artist panel Robert Lewis Clark, Reggie McFly, Paul Branton, and Nnaemeka Ekwelum; Middle row: work by Candace Hunter, Patricia Jones Blessman, and former U.S. Senator and Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun, and champagne toast. Bottom row: Pigment merchandise, Vicki and Bruce Heyman, former Ambassador to Canada, with grandson Levi, Sylvia Ewing, and Pat Everett. Photos by Thought P

Opening Night of Glory! Glory at Zhou B Art Center Pigment International continues the momentum of  Glory! Glory! with an evening of critical dialogue and cultural inquiry. On  Friday, March 13 at 6:00 PM , Glory! Glory! Salon Talk will convene artists, civic leaders, and political voices for a moderated conversation examining the intersection of art, civic engagement, and politics. Panelists will explore how creative practice can function as civic discourse—how visual langua

Pigment International is heading west for  LA Art Week , centering Black artists and cultural leadership across the city’s most dynamic platforms. Our team will be on the ground for the  Art Melanated Black Art Empowerment Summit , BUTTER LA, and Frieze Los Angeles—amplifying the force and future of Black art on the West Coast. On February 28, 2026, the Art Melanated Summit returns to Los Angeles at the W Hollywood for a full day of panels, strategy sessions, and high-impact

CELEBRATING NOLA BLACK CARNIVAL SOCIETY The opening of “ Origins of New Orleans Black Carnival Society” in New Orleans. The exhibit continues through March 15th.  Sandra McCollum’s mother Verlie Etta Bright, was the inspiration for the exhibition. Here she is pictured with Bright’s great-granddaughter, Melieaa McCollum.   LESSONS LEARNED BOOK SIGNING  Ruby Simmons , author of “Lessons Learned”, with Faye Edwards , owner of Faiè Afrikan Art Bronzeville, site of the reading

Paul Branton and his work featuring Stacey Abrams; Work by Nate Austin; work by Nnaemeka Ekwelum; Reggie McFly; Robert Lewis Clark, Candace Hunter, and Nate Austin. Pigment International is proud to present  Glory! Glory! , opening  Friday, February 20  at the  Zhou B Art Center  from  7:00–10:00 PM . This powerful group exhibition brings together new and recent works by Candace Hunter, Nnaemeka Ekwelum, Reggie McFly, Paul Branton, Nate Austin, and Robert Lewis Clark —each re

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

Work by Robert Lewis Clark - Mixed Media on Wood 8' X 11' X 2' Pigment International Presents  Glory! Glory!  at Zhou B Art Center, February 20 Pigment International announces  Glory! Glory! , a group exhibition examining symbolism, citizenship, and collective power through contemporary Black art. The exhibition opens Friday, February 20, at Zhou B Art Center 1029 W. 35th Street , with a reception from 7:00–10:00 PM. The event is free and open to the public, advance registrat

Top row right, Munson and Christina Steed at the KJM exhibit in London. The exhibition is now in Paris. Bottom row left, Patricia Jones Blessman at MoAD in San Francisco. KERRY JAMES MARSHALL IN PARIS "Kerry James Marshall: The Histories" continues at the  Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris , following its run at the Royal Academy of Arts and Kunsthaus Zürich. The exhibition features over 70 works, including new paintings exploring Black African roles in the transatlantic slave tra

“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