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.
This exhibition matters because it represents a landmark institutional acknowledgment of queer African art history on a continental and diasporic scale, described by the museum as the first survey of its kind outside Africa. The show's delayed opening raised concerns about political interference, particularly after President Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting the Smithsonian for allegedly promoting divisive ideologies. That the exhibition proceeded despite these pressures underscores the resilience of LGBTQ+ artists and curators, and affirms that queer narratives have always been integral to African art history, even if historically underrepresented.