On May 18, the BMA will open Black Earth Rising, a ticketed exhibition that celebrates the transcendent power of nature through vivid and compelling works by contemporary African diasporic, Latin American, and Native American artists.
Organized by renowned curator and writer Ekow Eshun, the exhibition brings together monumental paintings, sculpture, film, and mixed-media works by some of today’s most acclaimed artists, including Alejandro Piñeiro Bello, Frank Bowling, Teresita Fernández, Todd Gray, Sky Hopinka, Wangechi Mutu, Otobong Nkanga, and Alberta Whittle. Together, their works evoke resplendent moments of beauty and joy even as they shed light on the effects of colonialism, cultural displacement, and climate change on the natural world. The featured artworks are as aesthetically ecstatic as they are conceptually thoughtful and moving, creating a multilayered experience that allows visitors to engage at different levels of interest.The BMA is the only venue for the exhibition, which is on view through September 21, 2025. Tickets are available beginning on Earth Day, April 22. A free Community Day event will take place on Sunday, May 18, from 12 noon to 4 p.m.
“Black Earth Rising brings forward the boundless imagination and expressions of a remarkable cadre of artists and invites us to revel in the power of nature. The exhibition is singular in its emphasis on beauty and optimism even as it confronts the historical roots and current challenges of climate change,” said Asma Naeem, the BMA’s Dorothy Wagner Wallis Director. “Whether one chooses to simply take in the splendor of the featured works or delve more deeply into the underlying contexts, I’m certain it will be an engaging experience. I am grateful to Ekow for his vision and collaboration and look forward to sharing the exhibition with our audiences.”
On April 6, the BMA will open Earth as Medium: Extracting Art from Nature, a focus exhibition that explores the relationship between artistic production and the natural world. Throughout history and into the present day, natural resources—whether mineral, plant, or animal—have been used to create art. The exhibition considers the inextricable connections between art and nature and the ways in which artistic practices have been implicated in the exploitation of the earth. It also highlights how artists are, through careful selection of natural materials, providing environmental care in the act of artmaking. The exhibition will remain on view through August 17, 2025,
Both exhibitions are presented as part of the BMA’s Turn Again to the Earth initiative, which explores the relationship between art and the environment across time and geography.
More information: https://artbma.org
