Reimagine African American Art
The Detroit Institute of Arts began collecting African American art in 1943. In 2000, the DIA established the Center for African American Art and in 2001 appointed the first curator dedicated to African American art in an encyclopedic American museum, signaling the museum’s ongoing support and celebration of African American art and history.
Now, for the first time since 2007, the museum is reinstalling its African American galleries to showcase new works in the DIA’s collection in concert with existing favorites. Reimagine African American Art will highlight the collection by moving the galleries to one of the museum’s most prominent spaces — directly adjacent to Rivera Court. This transformative reinstallation, opening October 18, 2025, traces the development of African American art from the 1800s, when a few African Americans overcame tremendous challenges to become professional artists, to the 1980s, when some began to receive more national and international recognition.
Tracing the evolution of African American culture, the collection provides a powerful lens into the lives, achievements, and resilience of Black artists. Four dedicated galleries will explore key historical movements, including the Harlem Renaissance, Social Realism, the Civil Rights era, and the Black Arts Movement. The reinstalled galleries will feature a variety of media — drawings, prints, photography, paintings, and sculpture.
For regular updates on artwork currently on view, visit the museum’s collection pages. Information on temporary gallery closures is available here.
Exhibition:
Reimagine African American Art
Dates:
Opens October 18, 2025
General museum admission is FREE for residents of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.
From the Exhibition
Artwork From the Exhibition
Related Events
Lectures
Presenting African American Art: A Talk with the Directors
Register to join us for a compelling conversation between the directors of the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History as they explore the evolving role of cultural institutions in preserving, exhibiting, and championing African American art, history, and culture.This dialogue with Salvador Salort-Pons (DIA) and Neil Barclay (The Wright) will delve into the shared responsibilities and unique approaches each institution takes to highlight African American contributions of the past, present, and future.From curatorial practices and community engagement to equitable representation and collaborative initiatives, the discussion will offer insight into how museums can serve as both stewards of history and platforms for contemporary voices.This is an essential conversation for anyone invested in the future of inclusive art spaces and the power of cultural collaboration in Detroit and beyond. Reservations for this event are limited.
Sun
Oct 12, 2025
Member exclusive
Member SneakPeek Preview Grand Opening of the New African American Art Galleries
Be among the first to experience Reimagine African American Art at this exclusive Member SneakPeek Preview. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar in Rivera Court and the Josephine F. and Walter B. Ford II Great Hall as you explore the galleries before they open to the public.Explore works from the DIA's renowned African American art collection in a reimagined presentation at the heart of the museum, right next to Rivera Court. This fresh take on the collection celebrates the creativity, impact, and resilience of Black artists.
Thu
Oct 16, 2025
Member exclusive
Member Preview Grand Opening of the New African American Art Galleries
Be among the first to experience Reimagine African American Art during this exclusive Member Preview. Explore works from the DIA's renowned African American art collection in a reimagined presentation at the heart of the museum, right next to Rivera Court. This fresh take on the collection celebrates the creativity, impact, and resilience of Black artists.Also, members are invited to join a lecture with DIA Department Head and Curator of African American Art Valerie Mercer at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17.
Fri
Oct 17, 2025
Lectures
Member Lecture Grand Opening of the New African American Art Galleries
Join us for an engaging Member Lecture with Valerie Mercer.Explore works from the DIA's renowned African American art collection in a reimagined presentation at the heart of the museum, right next to Rivera Court. This fresh take on the collection celebrates the creativity, impact, and resilience of Black artists.
Fri
Oct 17, 2025
FAAAA Celebrates the Grand Opening of the DIA's New African American Art Galleries
The Friends of African & African American Art (FAAAA) cordially invite you to join them in celebrating the grand opening of the new African American Art Galleries with a cocktail reception and an exclusive guided tour.This event is being sponsored by Center Line Electric, Inc. and P.I.E Management
Sat
Oct 18, 2025
Performances
Friday Night Live! River Raisin Rag Revue
The River Raisin Ragtime Revue (R4) is a professional theater orchestra dedicated to educating and entertaining via the performance, preservation and restoration of significant American music. R4 highlights the development of our country’s original popular musical style – ragtime. Utilizing a meticulously-researched and engaging narrative, R4 transports the audience to the cultural and social conditions of turn-of-the-century America. Special emphasis is given to the contributions of African American composers and the obstacles they overcame in attempting to gain acceptance of this unique, original art form.
Fri
Nov 28, 2025
Performances
Friday Night Live! Mahogany Jones
Mahogany Jones—internationally acclaimed inspirational hip hop artist, cultural ambassador, and proud Detroiter—delivers a powerful live performance celebrating the reinstallation of the Detroit Institute of Arts’ African American Art collection. This special event honors the legacy of Black artistry through a genre-blending experience of hip hop, soul, jazz, and spoken word, brought to life by a full ensemble of top-tier musicians and performers.
Fri
Oct 24, 2025
FJC 2025 Holiday Party & ArtSeen
A Night to Reimagine and Rejoice. Founders Junior Council members and guests will meet to celebrate the holiday season and view the new African American Reinstallation.
Wed
Dec 10, 2025
Related Learning Resources
The Life and Times of Robert S. Duncanson
Through classroom and museum experiences, students learn about the life and times of the famous African American landscape painter, Robert S. Duncanson.
As part of an emerging group of skilled, free Black artists in the 1800s, Duncanson’s life tells the story of a self-taught painter who, with the support of several abolitionist patrons, gained much-deserved attention and fame for his beautifully skilled and serene works.
Multiple PDFs
The Harlem Renaissance
Through classroom and museum experiences, students will gain a better understanding of African American art history and broader history, making connections to Detroit today.
As students celebrate and appreciate the lives, accomplishments, and resilience of African Americans and African American artists, they will recognize that art and writing are tools for self-expression, change, emotional processing, and release.
Multiple PDFs
Community Zines: Living Library
In these three lessons, students will explore the Reimagine African American Art galleries at the Detroit Institute of Arts and create their own zines as a reflective artistic response to their thoughts and findings.
Multiple PDFs
Breaking with Tradition: Abstract Art
Through classroom and museum experiences, students will learn how artists use abstraction to explore a variety of topics, such as color, shape, materials, emotions, identity, resilience, and cultural pride. Through guided observation, they will sketch patterns, note meaningful symbols, and respond to reflection prompts in their sketchbooks.
Multiple PDFs
Responding to Injustice
Students will explore African American and Haitian history through the lens of visual art and literature. They will develop a deeper understanding of how artists like Vincent Smith, Philomé Obin, and Jean Wilner, and writers like James Baldwin and Amiri Baraka, used their work to respond to injustice, express identity, and document resistance.
Multiple PDFs
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