Primarily drawn from the museum’s collection, the exhibition brings together approximately 140 works by over 100 artists, spanning roughly 200 years. Subjects span a wide breadth to include historical figures, iconic change-makers, arts and culture luminaries, and ordinary people rendered extraordinary through the lens of art.
The artists range from self-taught to classically trained, and, while primarily Black, include other artists known for their supportive portrayals. The exhibition encompasses a variety of mediums, from painting, drawing, and sculpture, to fiber art, lithographs, photography, and mixed media. It is also something of an homage to LACMA’s 1976 exhibition Two Centuries of Black American Art, the first comprehensive survey of African American art, curated by world-renowned artist, art historian, and African American art authority David Driskell, who died in 2020.
