PARIS IN BLACK DEBUTS AT THE DUSABLE BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM | | Oscar and Tammi Bedolla, Flourish Art Accelerator; portrait of Robert S. Abott by William McBride; Former Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun, Board Chair of the DuSable, and former Illinois Senator Donne E. Trotter; I Baptize Thee by William H. Johnson; Perri Irmer, President & CEO DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center; Boy with Rabbit by Augusta Savage, Norman Bolden and Karen Weddington; Countryside Landscape by William A. Harper; Graham Grady, Alderman Lamont Robinson and appraiser Keon Parsons; Idris B. Odenewu and artist Dana Todd Pope; Patricia Martin and Esther Fillmore, DuSable Black History Museum; Glen Eden in the Josephine Baker Gallery, Eden shared that the iconic Bobino image of Baker holds pride of place in his home. | | |
The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center took guests on a decades long journey across Paris during the opening of “Paris in Black: Internationalism and the Black Renaissance.” The reception — attended by community members, executives, civic leaders, and dignitaries — was especially moving with the attendance of Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun, the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Senate and Chair of the DuSable board. Her leadership lent the gathering a powerful sense of history and continuity.
Framed by the glow of chandeliers, glit and gold the evening’s conversations unfolded around works drawn primarily from the museum’s permanent collection — more than 100 objects including paintings, sculpture, archival photographs, letters, and multimedia. Particularly striking were two iterations of Augusta Savage’s sculpture Boy With Rabbit (1928); and presciently the inclusion of work by Buford Delaney, whose The Sage Black (1967) sold this month at Christie for $1.52M. A portrait of Robert S. Abbott, founder of the Chicago Defender by William McBride, was a warm reminder of our city’s pioneering journalist.
The exhibit charted the transatlantic journeys of Black American artists, writers, and intellectuals who sought refuge and creative freedom in Paris. Iconic figures such as Henry Ossawa Tanner, Josephine Baker, Langston Hughes, Richard Wright, and James Baldwin emerged not only as symbols of achievement, but as real people forging new lives abroad.
The exhibition was curated by Danny Dunson, Director of Curatorial Services and Arts Education at the DuSable. In his remarks, Dunson emphasized how these works — drawn from the museum’s own holdings — underscore not only artistic brilliance but collective resilience, transformation, and global solidarity. The juxtaposition of remembrances from Chicago with the spirit of Paris created a stirring narrative: here is not just a display, but a powerful journey through exile, creativity, and liberation. All we can say is ‘Tres magnifique’!
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| REVOLT ART FAIR RETURNS TO MIAMI ART WEEK WITH BOLD NEW EXHIBITION, “DUAL CURRENCY: DEFIANCE BY DESIGN” | | A Peace of Journey, Dave McDuffie | | |
REVOLT will return to Miami Art Week 2025 with its premiere cultural event, the REVOLT Art Fair, presenting a powerful new exhibition titled Dual Currency: Defiance by Design. Running December 3–6 at Ice Palace Studios, the fair continues REVOLT’s mission to champion Black creativity and ownership on a global stage. This year’s exhibition examines the economic, cultural, and aesthetic impact of Black artistry, asserting that Black creators set their own value, shape the market, and define the future of the cultural economy.
Curated by Amy Andrieux, Executive Director and Chief Curator at MoCADA, and Zindzi Harley, creative director and founder of Zindzine, the fair will feature work from more than 50 multidisciplinary artists. Andrieux will lead the physical exhibition showcasing 30 artists, while Harley curates a dynamic digital exhibition displayed on large-scale LED screens during the closing night event, REVOLT House, on December 6.
Anchored in design, pop culture, and the digital age, Dual Currency invites attendees into an immersive creative ecosystem through interactive installations, QR-coded audio experiences, and real-time digital art walls. The exhibition will highlight artists from across the African diaspora, with special attention to Miami-based creators including Travion Payne and Brandon Clarke. Featured artists also include Uzumaki Cepeda, Shani Crowe, Andre Woolery, and Johnny Nelson.
Art buyers will have the opportunity to purchase works through UjAMMA, a Black-owned digital marketplace supporting artists and collectors.
Building on the success of its debut, the REVOLT Art Fair reinforces the idea that Black creativity is both a cultural force and an economic engine. Dual Currency: Defiance by Design stands as a declaration of agency, innovation, and artistic sovereignty—an unapologetic celebration of Black visionaries shaping the future of art and culture. The community can learn more at revoltartfair.com and follow @revoltartfair on Instagram for updates, featured artists, and behind-the-scenes content.
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| OPENING OF LOCAL SOUL AT NAVY PIER | | Deputy Mayor and interim head of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) Kenya K. Merritt, City of Chicago, Local Soul Curator Martha Wade, Marilynn Gardner, President and CEO of Navy Pier, and Marisa Diaz-Arce, director of Brand Activations, Navy Pier; apparel art by Damon Lamar Reed; Chrishon Lampley, Love Cork Screw and Wade. | | |
Local Soul opened at Navy Pier this weekend with a vibrant celebration of Chicago’s creative spirit. The new retail space, dedicated to showcasing local makers and culturally rooted brands, drew an enthusiastic crowd along with notable civic and cultural leaders. Navy Pier President and CEO Marilynn Gardner welcomed guests and affirmed the Pier’s commitment to elevating homegrown talent. Kenya Merritt from the City of Chicago joined the festivities, highlighting the city’s ongoing investment in small businesses and community-driven entrepreneurship.
Curated by acclaimed artist and cultural producer Martha Wade, Local Soul brings together a dynamic collection of products that reflect the city’s creativity and heritage. Pigment International is prominently featured in the space, offering a range of signature merch including custom-designed shirts, bags, hats, the latest issue of Pigment Magazine, and a selection of enamel pins that celebrate Black art and storytelling.
The opening marked more than a retail launch—it signaled a new opportunity for artists, designers, and cultural organizations to reach global audiences visiting Navy Pier. Local Soul stands as a fresh platform for Chicago’s creative community to shine.
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| GALLERIST THELMA HARRIS HONORED BY THE JOYCE GORDON FOUNDATION | | Tolani Verissimo, honoree Thelma Harris, Thelma Harris Gallery and Joyce Gordon. | | |
The Joyce Gordon Foundation of the Arts honored gallerist Thelma Harris for her more than 35 years of service to the arts, recognizing her as an award recipient during a special celebration in Oakland. The event acknowledged Harris’s longstanding commitment to elevating Black art and culture in the Bay Area and across the nation.
For over three decades, the Thelma Harris Art Gallery has served as a cornerstone of the Oakland arts community. Harris built the gallery into a welcoming home for artists, collectors, and supporters who sought a space dedicated to the richness of African American creative expression. Her curatorial leadership helped launch and sustain the careers of countless artists, while her dedication to cultural preservation earned her deep respect among peers and patrons.
During the award presentation, Harris reflected on her journey with gratitude. She noted that the milestone represented not only her own work but also the shared vision of the many people who had walked beside her—artists, collectors, family, and community members who believed in the importance of telling Black stories through art. Harris extended heartfelt thanks to those who had supported her gallery over the years and helped build a community rooted in creativity and cultural pride.
The award came as the Joyce Gordon Foundation expanded its mission and transitioned the historic Joyce Gordon Gallery into a broader Community Arts Hub. The Foundation emphasized the need for continued leadership, youth arts programming, and community partnerships to sustain its work. Harris encouraged supporters to donate to the Foundation and to help ensure that future generations of Oakland youth would have access to artistic mentorship, professional development, and creative opportunity.
Her recognition stood as a tribute to a lifetime of advocacy, vision, and unwavering devotion to the arts—an impact that would continue to shape the cultural landscape for years to come.
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| RAVINIA FESTIVAL OPENS 2026 POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION | | |
The Ravinia Festival has officially opened submissions for its 2026 Poster Design Competition, inviting artists to interpret the theme “Preserving Roots, Embracing Tomorrow.” The festival seeks artwork that captures Ravinia as a place where past and future meet, aligning with the multi-year renovation of its 36-acre campus and the debut of the transformed Hunter Pavilion in 2026.
The winning design will appear as the iconic season poster and on merchandise sold in the Ravinia Festival Shop and across Chicagoland. Artists will compete for a $1,000 first prize, with additional prizes of $500 and $250 for second and third place. Entries are due no later than Thursday, December 4, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. CST.
For more information, please visit Ravinia.org/Poster.
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