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The Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art has opened "Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art," the largest-ever exhibition dedicated to LGBTQ+ African art. The show, curated by Kevin Dumouchelle and Serubiri Moses, features nearly 60 works by 30 artists from across Africa and its diasporas, spanning photography, painting, tapestry, collage, and sculpture.
The National Museum of African Art, part of the Smithsonian Institution, has opened "Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art," its first major exhibition dedicated to African LGBTQ+ art. Featuring 60 works by artists from over a dozen countries across Africa and its diaspora, the show includes paintings, sculptures, textiles, photography, film, and video. Co-curated by Serubiri Moses and Kevin D. Dumouchelle, the exhibition highlights collaboration, joy, and lived experience, with artists such as Zanele Muholi, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Jim Chuchu, Ṣọlá Olúlòde, and Leilah Babirye. Originally scheduled to open in May 2025 to coincide with WorldPride in Washington, the exhibition was postponed to January 2026 due to a Smithsonian budget situation, but ultimately opened as planned.
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art has announced “Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art,” an exhibition opening January 23 through August 23, 2026. Featuring nearly 60 works by LGBTQ+ artists from Africa and its diaspora—including Zanele Muholi, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Leilah Babirye, Jim Chuchu, and Ṣọlá Olúlòde—the show spans painting, photography, sculpture, installation, video, and digital art. Co-curated by Serubiri Moses and Kevin D. Dumouchelle, the exhibition is built on years of dialogue with artists and communities, centering their voices and lived experiences.
The Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art has opened "Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art," its first major exhibition dedicated to African LGBTQ+ artists. The show, which was abruptly postponed earlier, features works that celebrate queer life through themes of joy, family, and belonging, while also addressing the darkness and loss faced by LGBTQ+ communities globally.
The Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art has opened 'Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art,' an exhibition curated by Kevin D. Dumouchelle and Serubiri Moses. Developed through years of direct dialogue with LGBTQ+ artists across Africa and its diaspora, the show foregrounds self-representation and community, ensuring artists defined the terms of their inclusion. It features contemporary works alongside historical precedents, creating a continuum of queer presence in African art history.
The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art has opened "Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art," the largest exhibition of LGBTQ+ African art to date, featuring nearly 60 artworks by 30 queer artists from across Africa and its diasporas. Curated by Kevin D. Dumouchelle and Serubiri Moses, the exhibition was originally scheduled to coincide with WorldPride DC 2025 but was delayed to early winter 2026, shortly after President Donald Trump issued an executive order targeting the Smithsonian for material deemed "divisive ideology," including discussions of gender identity. Museum officials attributed the postponement to budget and fundraising challenges rather than political pressure.