KNOWHERE ART GALLERY EXPLORES LEGACY AND LIBERATION IN TWO SUMMER EXHIBITIONS

Top left: The Musicians by Loïs Mailou Jones and right God Help America by Maria-Lana Queen. Bottom left Serve and Protect by Kim Rice and Blk Study Apparatus by Nnaemeka (Emeka) Ekwelum. Photos courtesy of Knowhere Art Gallery and the participating artists.

This summer, Knowhere Art Gallery on Martha's Vineyard presents two compelling exhibitions that examine Black history, artistic lineage, and the tensions that continue to shape American life. Located in the heart of Oak Bluffs' historic African American community, the gallery invites visitors to experience exhibitions that bridge generations while confronting the unfinished work of freedom.

Opening July 9 and continuing through September 13, Loïs Mailou Jones: Sphere of Influence celebrates the enduring legacy of pioneering artist and educator Loïs Mailou Jones (1905–1998). Best known for her nearly five decades of teaching at Howard University, Jones profoundly influenced generations of Black artists through her commitment to artistic discipline, cultural inquiry, and excellence. Curated by Valerie Francis, the exhibition features Jones' work alongside artists whose practices reflect her far-reaching impact, including David C. Driskell, Dr. Samella Lewis, Mary Lovelace O'Neal, Martha Jackson Jarvis, LaToya Hobbs, Mathieu JN Baptiste, and Lisa Corinne Davis. The exhibition also honors renowned collector, and great nephew of artist Henry Ossawa Tanner, Lewis Tanner Moore, whose lifelong stewardship of African American art is recognized through works from his celebrated collection.

Running concurrently through September 13, Held in Tension examines the emotional and historical space between Juneteenth and Independence Day—two dates that symbolize both liberation and the unfulfilled promises of American democracy. Featuring works by Kim Rice, Maria-Lana Queen, and Nnemeka Ekwelum, the exhibition reflects on the unresolved distance between freedom proclaimed and freedom realized. Through painting and contemporary visual practice, the artists explore memory, identity, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of justice.

Together, these exhibitions position Knowhere Art Gallery as an essential destination for conversations about Black art, history, and cultural continuity, offering visitors an opportunity to reflect on both inherited legacies and the work that lies ahead.