The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is opening two companion exhibitions, “Revelation: A Journey into Abstraction” and “Reset: Abstraction Embodied in Design,” in The Rhimes Family Foundation Visual Arts Gallery. “Revelation” features 41 works by 38 African American artists from the museum’s permanent collection, spanning mid-20th century to the present, organized into five thematic sections. “Reset” shifts focus to abstract design objects such as chairs, rugs, and lighting, exploring African diasporic influences on modern design. Artists represented include Theaster Gates, Sam Gilliam, Simone Leigh, Julie Mehretu, Gordon Parks, Howardena Pindell, Alma Thomas, and others. A fully illustrated catalog published by Rizzoli Electa accompanies the exhibitions.
These exhibitions matter because they highlight how abstraction has been a powerful tool for African American artists to express memory, resistance, and imagination, challenging established narratives of American abstraction. By pairing fine art with functional design, the shows encourage audiences to consider how abstraction shapes everyday environments and emotional experiences. The exhibitions also debut new acquisitions and expand the museum’s role in documenting African American artistic expression, reinforcing NMAAHC’s position as a leading cultural institution on the National Mall.