The Palaces of Memory
The article reports that Israeli and US airstrikes on Isfahan, Iran, damaged several centuries-old palaces and cultural buildings. It draws a parallel to the destruction of cultural heritage in Gaza, suggesting this may be a targeted strategy to erase cultural identity and history, which are seen as threats to occupying forces.
The May 2025 roundup of Black art news reports the deaths of two influential figures: international curator Koyo Kouoh and artist-curator Evangeline J. Montgomery, who died at 94. Montgomery's career spanned metalwork, fiber art, and photography, and she was a key advocate and mentor in the African American art community, later working at the U.S. Information Agency. Other highlights include historian Edda L. Fields-Black winning a Pulitzer Prize for her book on Harriet Tubman, the acquisition of Adam Pendleton's entire "Who is Queen" installation by MoMA, and Kapwani Kiwanga winning the Joan Miró Prize. The Met Gala also featured Black dandy style inspired by the Costume Institute's exhibition "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style."
Blanc gallery in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood celebrates its 15th anniversary with the exhibition 'In Retrospect' (1-29 March), featuring works from its earliest years alongside new pieces. Founded by chef Cliff Rome and real estate developer Eileen Rhodes, the gallery opened on a historic block of Black enterprise, initially showcasing artists like Olalekan Jeyifous and Amanda Williams. Over the years, it has exhibited influential Black artists, architects, and designers including Norman Teague and Faheem Majeed, while also serving as a community hub with outdoor film screenings, music, and partnerships with institutions like the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA) and Expo Chicago.
The Obama Presidential Center in Chicago has unveiled its final cohort of artist commissions ahead of its scheduled opening in June. This group includes high-profile contemporary artists such as Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Jeffrey Gibson, and Lorna Simpson, who will contribute site-specific works ranging from a multi-layered portrait of the Obamas to a 34-foot stainless steel sculpture by Martin Puryear honoring the late John Lewis. These eight artists join a previously announced roster, bringing the total number of new commissions for the 19.3-acre South Side campus to 30.
The Obama Foundation has unveiled the final group of artists commissioned to create site-specific works for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. This prestigious roster includes Jeffrey Gibson, Rashid Johnson, Lorna Simpson, and Njideka Akunyili Crosby, whose works will be integrated into the 19.3-acre campus. The announcement completes the artistic vision for the center, which aims to blend public space with high-caliber contemporary art when it opens on June 19th.
Norman Teague is the subject of a documentary film produced by Firelight Media in association with The WNET Group for the PBS series 'American Masters.' The film, directed by Adewole A. Abioye and produced by Aderemi Abioye, explores Teague's life and creative journey as a visual artist. The program is part of the 'In the Making' series and is funded by multiple foundations including the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Rosalind P. Walter Foundation.