Tell Me Your Story

For the first time in Europe: 100 years of African American art based on storytelling. From February 8, visitors can explore the visual richness of black culture in Kunsthal KAdE through the works of 50 African American artists. Around 140 works - mainly on loan from the United States - will be exhibited in Amersfoort. Most of the participating artists have never been exhibited in the Netherlands before. Meet the figureheads of African American art and learn about their unique stories.

Tell Me Your Story starts with the Harlem Renaissance. Harlem in the 1920s saw a flurry of activity by African American authors, musicians and theatre makers, resulting in a vibrant visual arts scene. Black culture is currently enjoying another renaissance, and African American artists are more visible than ever in the United States. The exhibition places contemporary artists in the context of their predecessors.

The exhibition is being curated by guest curator Rob Perrée: 'Black American artists are creating beautiful, profound art and have a great deal to say. They want their voices to be heard, which has not really been possible in the Netherlands until now. This exhibition offers a unique opportunity to find out what we've been missing out on.'

Tell Me Your Story focuses on five chronological periods: the Harlem Renaissance, Post Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights, Black Renaissance and the Bloom Generation. The artists in each of these distinct periods shared one common characteristic: the need to express themselves and safeguard the vital African tradition of storytelling.