The Getty Museum is hosting a comprehensive exhibition titled “Photography and the Black Arts Movement 1955-1985,” featuring over 150 works including paintings, photographs, video art, and archival memorabilia. Developed in partnership with Cal State Northridge, the show highlights the pivotal role of Black photographers and artists in documenting and shaping the Civil Rights era and the subsequent Black Arts Movement. The collection includes iconic imagery from figures like Barkley L. Hendricks and Gordon Parks, as well as local Los Angeles legends such as Betye Saar and Harry Adams.
This exhibition is significant for its exploration of how visual media was used to redefine Black identity, beauty, and resistance during a period of intense social upheaval. By organizing the works into thematic sections like activism, community representation, and fashion, the Getty underscores the power of the lens to sway public opinion and foster cultural resilience. The inclusion of archival materials from the L.A. Sentinel further grounds the international movement within the specific historical context of the Los Angeles Black community.