Art of the African Diaspora

Art of the African Diaspora, in partnership with the Richmond Art Center, supports artists of African descent in the Bay Area through representation, professional development, and building a creative community.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of this exhibition program, and features over 100 artists of African descent. Artwork is on view at the Richmond Art Center, as well as in open studios and satellite exhibitions at venues across the Bay Area.

This satellite exhibition is curated for the MAH by artist and organizer Abi Mustapha and MAH Historian in Residence Luna HighJohn-Bey. Featured artists in this exhibition include Abi Mustapha, Zoe Boston, Tiffany Conway, Carla Golder, Louise Schine, Janet Barnes, Eijah Pfotenhauer and Justice Renaissance.

About the Art Of The African Diaspora

Art Of The African Diaspora is the longest running event of its kind in the Bay Area. It began in 1989 as a salon for African American artists known as Colors of Black, organized by artist and professor Marie Johnson Calloway. Diaspora refers to a group of people that live outside of their ancestral land.

In 1996, artists Jan Hart-Schuyers and Rae Louise Hayward established the exhibition, The Art of Living Black at Richmond Art Center. Many of the artists from Colors of Black participated in the inaugural exhibition, which presented the work of emerging and established African American artists. The artists gained introductions to new audiences, and access to build a creative community of artists and art lovers.

Over the next twenty-five years, the exhibition ensured the increased visibility for African American artists in the Bay Area. that Hart-Schuyers and Hayward conceptualized. After the loss of both founders, their organizing efforts were carried on for many years by artists, family members, and RAC. (Richmond Art Center).

The next stage of development happened in 2018, when a Steering Committee comprised of participating artists, presented the exhibition. In 2019, the Committee became aware of the necessity to incorporate a broader vision of the African Diaspora and consequently renamed the organization Art of The African Diaspora.