The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) will present a major exhibition of East Bay artist Mildred Howard titled "Mildred Howard: Poetics of Memory" from June 12 through October 18. The show spans over 50 years of Howard's career, featuring sculpture, public art, and immersive installations, including large-scale works made from found objects like skillets, shoes, and glass bottles. Key pieces include "Blackbird in a Red Sky (aka Fall of the Blood House)" and "Ten Little Children Standing in a Line (One Got Shot, and Then There Were Nine)." Howard, a 2025 Guggenheim Fellow, explores themes of memory, home, Black identity, and the African American experience, often using house-like structures to prompt dialogue about belonging and sanctuary.
This exhibition matters because it brings together rarely seen works from a highly respected but sometimes underrecognized artist whose practice bridges personal narrative and collective history. Howard's inclusion of community engagement and public art projects, such as collaborations with Walter Hood and Quincy Troupe, underscores her lasting impact on the Bay Area. The show also highlights OMCA's commitment to showcasing regional artists who address pressing social issues through innovative, multi-media practices.