The Rose Art Museum in Waltham, Massachusetts, will present "Danielle Mckinney: Tell Me More," the painter's first solo museum exhibition in the United States, running from August 20, 2025, to January 4, 2026. Curated by Dr. Gannit Ankori, the show features thirteen intimate paintings, including two new works, that explore the interior lives of Black women, reimagining art-historical motifs like the odalisque through a contemporary, empowered lens. The exhibition coincides with Mckinney's 2025 Ruth Ann and Nathan Perlmutter Artist-in-Residence Award at the Rose.
This exhibition matters because it marks a significant milestone for Mckinney, a rising painter who transitioned from photography in 2020 and has quickly gained attention for her nuanced depictions of Black femininity and interiority. By reclaiming and reframing traditional figurative painting tropes, Mckinney challenges colonial and patriarchal gazes, offering a bold, contemplative vision that resonates with current conversations about representation, agency, and identity in contemporary art. The show also highlights the Rose Art Museum's commitment to supporting emerging artists through its residency award.