Artists - Summer 2016 Exhibitions
This summer, artists including (clockwise from left) Nari Ward, Simone Leigh, Fred Wilson, Chakaia Booker, and John Akomfrah, are presenting solo exhibitions.

 

THIS SUMMER 2016, incredible exhibitions featuring artists of African descent are on view across the United States. From Los Angeles, to Chicago, Atlanta, and New York, museums and galleries and public spaces are presenting solo exhibitions, group shows, film installations, special projects and outdoor sculptures.

The selection includes major solo museum exhibitions such as Kerry James Marshall at MCA Chicago; Simone Leigh at the New Museum in New York; Norman Lewis at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, Texas; John Outterbridge at the Aspen Art Museum in Colorado; Kehinde Wiley at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond; Nari Ward at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia; and Alma Thomas at the Studio Museum in Harlem.

Galleries in New York are presenting some of the most innovative shows of the season. “For Freedoms” at Jack Shainman Gallery in New York responds directly to the election season and social justice issues in the heightened political climate. At Pace Gallery, the group show “Blackness in Abstraction” is curated by Adrienne Edwards. Lisson Gallery is presenting the first major U.S. exhibition of John Akomfrah, the Ghanaian-born, British artist and filmmaker. And, highlighting the breadth of artistic talent in Chicago, Galerie Lelong is featuring McArthur Binion, Samuel Levi Jones, Tony Lewis John Phillips, Bethany Collins, and Nate Young.

Beyond major art centers, important presentations are on view, including Senga Nengudi at the University of Washington, Seattle; Fred Wilson at Oberlin College in Ohio; Mark Bradford‘s “Receive Calls On Your Cell Phone From Jail” in St. Louis, Mo.; and the group show “30 Americans” in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Finally, Chakaia Booker, who is known for her tire sculptures, is the first African American artist to have her work on view in Millennium Park in Chicago. The site is a part of the larger Grant Park where President Barack Obama gave his victory speech when he was elected the first black president of the United States on Nov. 4, 2008. CT

 

TOP PHOTOS: Clockwise, from left, World Red Eye; Paul Mpagi Sepuya; © Fred Wilson, courtesy Pace Gallery; Nelson Tejada; Jack Hems © Smoking Dogs Films, courtesy of Lisson Gallery

 

Installation view of Gary Simmons, Anthony Meier Fine Arts SF Summer 2016
Installation view of musical fly posters by Gary Simmons at Anthony Meier Fine Arts, San Francisco | via Anthony Meier Fine Arts

1. GARY SIMMONS @ Anthony Meier Fine Arts, San Francisco | June 8-July 15, 2016
 

Ronald Lockett - Sargents Daughters
Installation view of RONALD LOCKETT at Sargent’s Daughters Gallery, New York | via Sargent’s Daughters

2. RONALD LOCKETT @ Sargent’s Daughters Gallery, New York, N.Y. | June 23-July 15, 2016
 

SAM GILLIAM - Green April - 1969
Installation view of SAM GILLIAM, “Green April,” 1969 (acrylic on canvas). | via David Kordansky Gallery

3. “SAM GILLIAM: Green April” @ David Kordansky Gallery. Los Angeles | June 4-July 16, 2016
 

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LARRY WALKER, “Listen (to da beat), Wall Series (extension with wall spirits),” 2008 (mixed media on board, microphone and sandbox). | Courtesy Sikkema Jenkins

4. “LARRY WALKER,” curated by Kara Walker @ Sikkema Jenkins, New York, N.Y. | June 9-July 16, 2016
 

Install View - Chicago Invites Chicago 2016_8
Installation view of Chicago Meets Chicago at Galerie Lelong, New York. Foreground: TONY LEWIS, “Untitled 7,” 2016 (graphite powder, paint, and tape on paper, dimensions variable). | © Tony Lewis. Courtesy Galerie Lelong, New York

5. “Chicago Invites Chicago” (MCARTHUR BINION, SAMUEL LEVI, and TONY LEWIS invite JOHN PHILLIPS, BETHANY COLLINS, and NATE YOUNG) @ Galerie Lelong, New York, N.Y. | June 30-July 29, 2016
 

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From left, NARI WARD, “mass action,” 2016 (shoelaces); TREVOR PAGLEN, “Vote War.”; CARRIE MAE WEEMS, “American Monuments I,” 2015-2016 (gelatin silver print). | Courtesy Jack Shainman Gallery

6. “For Freedoms” @ Jack Shainman Gallery, New York, N.Y. | June 7-July 29, 2016
 

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Installation view of XAVIERA SIMMONS: Coded at The Kitchen, New York. | Photo by Jason Mandella. Courtesy The Kitchen

7. “XAVIERA SIMMONS: Coded” @ The Kitchen, New York, N.Y. | June 22-July 29, 2016
 

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JASON MORAN, “Staged: Three Deuces,” 2015 (mixed media, sound). | Photo by Roberto Marassi, Courtesy Luhring Augustine

8. JASON MORAN @ Luhring Augustine, Bushwick, Brooklyn, N.Y. | April 28-July 30, 2016
 

Wosene Worke Kosrof-- Through My Window III
WOSENE WORKE KOSROF, “Through My Window III,” 2015 (acrylic on linen). | via Skoto Gallery

9. “WOSENE WORKE KOSROF: You Are Always New” @ Skoto Gallery, New York, N.Y. | June 2-July 30, 2016
 

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Installation view of LESLIE HEWITT, “Untitled,” 2012. | Courtesy the artist and Sikkema Jenkins & Co., New York. Photo by Kyle Knodell via Sculpture Center

10. “LESLIE HEWITT: Collective Stance” @ Sculpture Center, Long Island City, New York, N.Y. | May 1-Aug. 1, 2016
 

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JONATHAN LYNDON CHASE, “Street Dance at Night,” 2016 (mixed media on panel).

11. “JONATHAN LYNDON CHASE: Sweet and Hard” @ Thierry Goldberg Gallery, New York, N.Y. | July 7-Aug. 5, 2016
 

bethany collins - lobby project - birmingham museum of arr
BETHANY COLLANS is the first artist to participate in Lobby Projects at the Birmingham Museum of Art.

12. “Lobby Projects: BETHANY COLLINS” @ Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, Ala. | April 16-Aug. 7, 2016
 


Curator Daniel Fuller interviews Dapper Bruce LaFitte. | Video by Atlanta Contemporary

13. DAPPER BRUCE LAFITTE, “The Dapper Comes to the Walkers” @ Atlanta Contemporary, Atlanta, Ga. | May 19-Aug. 7, 2016
 

Installation view JOHN AKOMFRAH @ Lisson Gallery
Installation view of one of two film presentations by JOHN AKOMFRAH at Lisson Gallery, New York. | Copyright Smoking Dogs Films. Photography by Jack Hems. Courtesy Lisson Gallery

14. JOHN AKOMFRAH @ Lisson Gallery, New York, N.Y. | June 24-Aug. 12, 2016
 

Todd Gray - Meliksetian | Briggs
Installation view of “TODD GRAY: Time Machine / Hippie Dandy” at Meliksetian-Briggs, Los Angeles | via Meliksetian-Briggs

15. “TODD GRAY: Time Machine / Hippie Dandy,” @ Meliksetian-Briggs Gallery, Los Angeles | June 10-Aug. 13, 2016
 

rodney mcmillan - a migration tale
RODNEY MCMILLAN, “A Migration Tale,” 2015, filmed 2014 (single channel video). | Courtesy the artist and Maccarone, New York via ICA Philadelphia

16. “RODNEY MCMILLAN: The Black Show” @ ICA Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa. | Feb. 3-Aug. 14, 2016
 

Current LA Water
Current: LA – Water harnesses contemporary art as a platform for the exchange of ideas around water use and conservation via temporary public projects and programs. | Image via Current LA

17. “Current: LA – Water,” a public art biennial featuring artists EDGAR ARCENEAUX and KORY NEWKIRK, among others, Various Los Angeles sites | July 16-Aug. 14, 2016
 

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MARK BRADFORD, Detail of “Receive Calls On Your Cell Phone From Jail,” 2013 (mixed media on canvas, 38 panels). | Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth, New York

18. “MARK BRADFORD: Receive Calls on Your Cell Phone From Jail” @ Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, St. Louis, Mo. | May 6-Aug. 14, 2016
 

Ellen Gallagher Negroes Fighting in a Cave, 2016 No. 63102 Alt # GALLA 2016.0004 Format of original photography: high res tiff Photographer: Robert McKeever
ELLEN GALLAGHER, “Negroes Battling in a Cave, No. 4,” 2016 (enamel, ink, rubber and paper on linen). | © Ellen Gallagher. Photography by Tom Powel Imaging. Courtesy Gagosian Gallery

19. “Blackness in Abstraction,” curated by Adrienne Edwards @ Pace Gallery, West 25th Street, New York, N.Y. | June 24-Aug. 19, 2016
 

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NORMAN LEWIS, “Title Unknown (March on Washington),” 1965 (il on fiberboard). | L. Ann and Jonathan P. Binstock. © Estate of Norman W. Lewis; Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery LLC, New York, NY

20. “Procession: The Art of NORMAN LEWIS” @ Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, Texas | June 4-Aug. 21 2016
 

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NARI WARD, “Iron Heavens” (installation view, Pérez Art Museum Miami, 2015), 1995 (oven pans, ironed cotton, and burnt wooden bats). | Photo courtesy Pérez Art Museum Miami. Photo by STUDIO LHOOQ via Barnes Foundation

21. “NARI WARD: Sun Splashed” @ Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia | June 24-Aug. 22, 2016
 

AMY SHERALD - Mother and Child - 2016
AMY SHERALD, “Mother and Child,” 2016, Oil on canvas | via Monique Meloche Gallery

22. “AMY SHERALD: A Wonderful Dream” @ Monique Meloche Gallery, Chicago | June 11-Aug. 27, 2016
 

Lorna Simpson, Wigs (Portfolio), 1994, waterless lithograph and felt. © Lorna Simpson
LORNA SIMPSON, “Wigs (Portfolio),” 1994 (waterless lithograph and felt). | © Lorna Simpson via Cincinnati Art Museum

23. “30 Americans” @ Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati, Ohio | March 19-Aug. 28, 2016
 

GORDON PARKS. - Untitled, Harlem, New York - 1952
GORDON PARKS. “Untitled, Harlem, New York,” 1952. | The Art Institute of Chicago, anonymous gift. Courtesy Art Institute of Chicago

24. “Invisible Man: GORDON PARKS and Ralph Ellison in Harlem” @ Art Institute Chicago | May 21-Aug. 28, 2016
 


Made in L.A. 2016 Artist Announcement. | Video by Hammer Museum

25. “Made in L.A. 2016” biennial, co-curated by HAMZA WALKER and featuring artists TODD GRAY, ARTHUR JAFA, WADADA LEO SMITH, MARTINE SYMS, among others, at Hammer Museum, Los Angeles | June 12-Aug. 28, 2016
 

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RODNEY MCMILLAN, “Blue sun,” 2014‑2015 (latex and ink on bed sheet). | Collection of Danielle and David Ganek.

26. “RODNEY MCMILLAN: Landscape Paintings” @ MoMA PS1, Long Island City, N.Y. | April 3 – Aug. 29, 2016
 

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27. “SHINIQUE SMITH: Resonant Tides” @ Aspen Art Museum, Aspen, Colo. | Nov. 28, 2015-Sept. 4, 2016
 

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MARTIN PURYEAR, “Vessel,” 1997–2002 (eastern white pine, mesh, and tar). | Courtesy of the artist. © Martin Puryear, Courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery

28. “MARTIN PURYEAR: Multiple Dimensions @ Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C. | May 27-Sept. 5, 2016
 

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Installation view of MARTIN PURYEAR, “Big Bling,” 2016 (pressure-treated laminated timbers, plywood, fiberglass, gold leaf, chain link fencing). | Photo by Victoria L. Valentine

29. “MARTIN PURYEAR: Big Bling” @ Madison Square Park, New York, N.Y. | May 27-Sept. 5, 2016
 


KEHINDE WILEY’s traveling retrospect “A New Republic” presents nearly 60 paintings and sculptures. | Video by VMFA

30. “KEHINDE WILEY: A New Republic” @ Virginia Museum of Fine Art, Richmond, Va. | June 11–Sept. 5, 2016
 

Kia Chenelle, The Waiting Man I, 2013, Archival Inkjet Print. Courtesy of the artist
KIA CHENELLE, “The Waiting Man I,” 2013 (archival inkjet print). | Courtesy of the artist via MoAD

31. “Dandy Lions: (Re)Articulating Black Masculine Identity” @ Museum of the African Diaspora, San Francisco, Calif. | April 27-Sept. 18, 2016
 


“Disguise: Masks & Global African Art” preview. | Video by Brooklyn Museum

32. “Disguise: Masks & Global African Art” @ Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, N.Y. | April 29-Sept. 18, 2016
 

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RONALD LOCKETT, “Sarah Lockett’s Roses,” 1997 (cut tin and paint on wood). | Collection of Souls Grown Deep Foundation, L2015.2.22. Photo by Stephen Pitkin / Pitkin Studio via American Folk Art Museum

33. “Fever Within: The Art of RONALD LOCKETT” and “Once Something Has Lived It Can Never Really Die” @ American Folk Art Museum, New York, N.Y. | June 21-Sept. 18, 2016
 

SIMONE LEGIH The Waiting Room
SIMONE LEIGH, “Landscape,” from the series Anatomy of Architecture, 2016. | Courtesy of the artist via New Museum

34. “SIMONE LEIGH: The Waiting Room” @ New Museum, New York, N.Y. | June 22-Sept. 18, 2016
 

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GORDON PARKS, “Untitled, Miami, Florida,” 1970. | © The Gordon Parks Foundation. Courtesy the Gordon Parks Foundation

35. “American Champion” @ Gordon Parks Foundation, Pleasantville, N.Y. | June 6-Sept. 24, 2016
 

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KERRY JAMES MARSHALL, “Better Homes, Better Gardens,” 1994 (acrylic and collage on unstretched canvas). | Denver Art Museum Collection © Kerry James Marshall. Photo courtesy of the Denver Art Museum.

36. “KERRY JAMES MARSHALL: Mastry” @ Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago | April 23-Sept. 25, 2016
 

AKINBODE AKINBIYI - Untitled (Lagos) - 2003-04
AKINBODE AKINBIYI “Untitled (Lagos),” from the series Lagos: All Roads, 2003-04 (inkjet print). | Courtesy the artist. © Akinbode Akinbiyi via Philadelphia Museum of Art

37. “Creative Africa: 1 Continent, 5 Exhibitions, 1 Season” @ Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pa. | May 14-Sept. 25, 2016
 

Stan Douglas, Luanda-Kinshasa, 2014-web
STAN DOUGLAS, “Luanda-Kinshasa,” 2014 (single-channel video projection, color, soundRunning time 6 hours, 1 minute; Edition 2 of 4). | Collection Pérez Art Museum Miami and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Image courtesy the artist and David Zwirner, New York

38. “STAN DOUGLAS: Luanda-Kinshasa,” film installation/exhibition @ Perez Art Museum Miami, Miami, Fla. | May 27-Sept. 25, 2016
 

Mark Bradford on Clyfford Still - The Artist Project, The Met
MARK BRADFORD, who discussed Clyfford Still’s work for The Artist Project at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, continues the conversation with an exhibition at Albright-Knox that pairs Still’s paintings with his own. | Screen grab from The Artist Project video by The Metropolitan Museum of Art

39. “Shade: Clyfford Still / MARK BRADFORD” @ Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, N.Y. | May 26-Oct. 2, 2016
 

Senga Nengudi - studio performance of Mesh Mirage - 1978
SENGA NENGUDI, “Studio performance of Mesh Mirage,” 1978. | Image courtesy of the artist and Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver. Photo: Adam Avila via Henry Art Gallery

40. “SENGA NENGUDI: Improvisational Gestures” @ Henry Art Gallery University of Washington, Seattle | July 16–Oct. 9, 2016
 

JOHN OUTTERBRIDGE - Rag and Bag Idiom V - 2012
JOHN OUTTERBRIDGE, “Rag and Bag Idiom V,” 2012 (mixed media). | The Eileen Harris Norton Collection. Image courtesy Tilton Gallery, New York via Aspen Art Museum

41. “JOHN OUTTERBRIDGE: Rag Man” @ Aspen Art Museum, Aspen, Colo. | July 1-Oct. 16, 2016
 

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RASHID JOHNSON, “Waves,” 2016 (white ceramic tile, black soap, wax, vinyl, spray enamel). | © The artist Courtesy Hauser & Wirth

42. “RASHID JOHNSON: Fly Away” @ Hauser + Wirth, 18th Street, New York, N.Y. | Sept. 8-Oct. 22, 2016
 

FO WILSON's Peculiar Cabinet - model
Scale model of FO WILSON’s Eliza’s Peculiar Cabinet. | via Lynden Sculpture Garden

43. “FO WILSON: Eliza’s Peculiar Cabinet of Curiosities” @ Lynden Sculpture Garden, Milwaukee, Wisc. | June 26-Oct. 30, 2016
 

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ALMA THOMAS, “Deep Red Roses Chant,” 1972 (acrylic on canvas). | Courtesy Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, New York via Tang Museum

44. ALMA THOMAS @ Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, N.Y. | July 14-Oct. 30, 2016
 

Yinka Installed 2
Installation view of “Rotunda Projects: YINKA SHONIBARE” at Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. | Courtesy of Memphis Brooks Museum of Art

45. “Rotunda Projects: YINKA SHONIBARE MBE” @ Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis, Tenn. | May 7-Nov. 6, 2016
 

Dimitri Wright - Black Couple in Bed Looking at TV 1971
DMITRI WRIGHT, “Black Couple in Bed Watching TV,” 1971 (acrylic on canvas). | Gift of the Prudential Insurance Company, 1971 © Dmitri Wright. Photo via Newark Museum

46. “Modern Heroics: 75 Years of African-American Expressionism at the Newark Museum,” Newark, N.J. | June 18, 2016-Jan. 8, 2017
 

Non-Fiction Exhibition - Underground Museum
Installation view of “Non-Fiction,” featuring from left, works by KERRY JAMES MARSHALL and HENRY TAYLOR, at The Underground Museum, Los Angeles | via The Underground Museum

47. “Non-Fiction,” curated by the late NOAH DAVIS @ The Underground Museum, Los Angeles | May 2016-March 2017
 

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FRED WILSON, “LIBERATION,” 2012 (acrylic on canvas, blown glass). | Photograph by Silvia Ros. © Fred Wilson, Courtesy Pace Gallery

48. “FRED WILSON: Black to the Powers of Ten” @ Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio | Aug. 30, 2016-June 12, 2017
 

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CHAKAIA BOOKER, “Pass the Buck,” 2008 (rubber tires & stainless steel). | via City of Chicago

49. CHAKAIA BOOKER @ Millennium Park, Chicago | April 30, 2016-April 2018
 

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