Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955–1985

Amid the turbulent decades of the mid-20th century, African American and Afro-Atlantic diaspora artists sought to celebrate Black culture and advance the struggle for civil rights. Photographic images contributed in myriad ways to the lively exchange of pan-African ideas that propelled the Black Arts Movement. See how an incredible range of artists and activists—from studio and street photographers to graphic designers and community organizers—used photography as a tool for social change.

The exhibition is organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington.

Other venues

National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC: September 21-January 11, 2026
Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson, MS: July 25–November 8, 2026