Art Exploring the Black Lives Matter Movement, Social Protests and the Struggle for Equality and Freedom

Review by Cecilia Mencia

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) opened its latest exhibition, “Reckoning: Protest. Defiance. Resilience.,” in its newly redesigned Visual Art and the American Experience gallery on September 10th, 2021

The role of art depicting social protest movements like the Black Lives Matter movement and the violence against African Americans is central to the exhibit. Prominently featured in the gallery is the portrait of Breonna Taylor in a blue flowing gown, painted by renowned artist Amy Sherald (Sherald is also known for painting the official portrait of the former First Lady Michelle Obama). The painting of Taylor, which was featured on the cover of Vanity Fair’s September 2020 issue, is part of a collection of 27 new artworks by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Sheila Pree Bright, Bisa Butler, Shaun Leonard, David Hammons, and more.

“Visual artists have long evoked questions of beauty and history, and the Black painters, sculptors, photographers, and textile artists featured in this show exemplify the tradition of resilience in times of conflict and the ritual and even defiant pleasures of creation,” said Kevin Young, the Andrew W. Mellon Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. “The show continues to tell the story of the centrality of the Black experience found in the entire Museum, while also connecting to our current moment, filled with the twin pandemics of Covid-19 and racism and an ongoing renaissance of Black art and artistry.”

Augmented-Reality Experience  

Visitors can interact with select works of art through their mobile devices. The augmented-reality experience incorporates video and other pop-up displays to create an immersive, digital experience. The exhibition opens just two weeks before the museum’s fifth anniversary and highlights its ongoing mission to tell the stories of American history through the African American lens. 

“Reckoning: Protest. Defiance. Resilience.” is located on the fourth floor of the museum. The museum requires timed-entry passes to enter the museum and the gallery. Visit the museum’s website for information about featured artwork and more at www.NMAAHC.si.edu/Reckoning. The public can join the online conversation using #NMAAHCReckoning on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. 

Cecilia Mencia is a Washington, DC based journalist, founder and editor in chief at DCTRENDING.com.