Loyola Marymount University's Laband Art Gallery has opened "Noni Olabisi: When Lightning Strikes," the first institutional exhibition dedicated to the work of artist and muralist Noni Olabisi (1954-2022). The show, running from January 29 to April 4, 2026, features over 40 works from 1984 to 2022, highlighting her bold public murals in South Los Angeles and her commitment to portraying Black identity, history, and contemporary struggles.
This exhibition is significant as it brings long-overdue institutional recognition to an underrecognized artist whose large-scale public works have been community landmarks for decades. It showcases Olabisi's powerful visual language, which combined personal symbolism—like the signature yellow dot representing inner light—with a fierce dedication to social justice, giving voice to the experiences of Black Angelenos, particularly during the 1992 uprising.