Maryam El Sayed Bakry

The Getty Foundation has awarded $2.6 million to expand its Black Visual Arts Archives initiative, empowering 12 U.S. institutions—libraries, museums, and universities—to catalogue, digitise, and bring Black art histories into public view. This multi-year commitment spotlights previously overlooked collections, transforming archives into dynamic cultural touchpoints and promoting long-overdue visibility for Black artists and institutions.

Now open at ZuCot Gallery, Dear Black People… A Love Letter is a bold and poetic journey through the Black American experience. With over 95% of works by artists of African descent, the show reframes visual storytelling as time travel — blending memory, identity and joy.
From glowing watermelons to shimmering histories, this exhibition pulses with creativity, community and cultural pride.

How Black Art Defined the Essence Festival’s Identity

Discover how Black art has shaped the Essence Festival’s visual history—turning every poster into a living archive since 1995.

Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz have built a world-class collection focused on African and Black diasporic artists, supporting both established and emerging creators. Through exhibitions, acquisitions, philanthropy, and cultural dialogue, they elevate representation, empower artists, and enrich global appreciation of African artistic heritage.

Ciara, Ludacris, and Idris Elba are among a growing wave of global artists reconnecting with their African roots. Through official citizenships and cultural investments, they are not only reclaiming identity but also reshaping narratives, strengthening ties between the diaspora and the continent, and amplifying the cultural value of belonging.

Zara has announced a groundbreaking capsule collaboration with Ghanaian painter Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe. Featuring 16 curated looks—from vibrant embroidered trousers to statement T‑shirts and accessories—the collection channels Quaicoe’s signature palette and reflects the energy, history and spirit of Accra. This partnership not only broadens visibility for African artists but underscores the growing influence of contemporary African art in global fashion and culture.

From Afrofuturistic photography to socio-political painting, contemporary African artists are redefining the global art scene. This list features ten artists whose work is vital, visionary, and deeply rooted in cultural identity, memory, and innovation.

Paula Nascimento, an architect and independent curator based in Luanda, has been announced as co-curator of Sharjah Biennial 17 (January 2027), working in tandem with Berlin-based professor Angela Harutyunyan. Their collaboration promises an experimental, critically engaged biennial grounded in shared histories and global reflections.