The groundbreaking exhibition "Afro-Atlantic Histories" has just opened at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC.  The exhibition encompasses five centuries of history and artwork form all over the African diaspora.  Alongside the work of artists from Brazil, Cuba, Ethiopia, Grenada, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Uruguay and the United States, the curators selected several Haitian artworks for the show.   These included "Erzulie La Flambeau" a sequined drapo Vodou by Georges Valris loaned from the Indigo Arts collection.  It was a privilege to join Georges for the event, which was launched by Vice President Kamala Harris.  

For centuries, artists have told and retold the complex histories of the African Diaspora. Explore this enduring legacy in the exhibition Afro-Atlantic Histories, which takes an in-depth look at the historical experiences and cultural formations of Black and African people since the 17th century. More than 130 powerful works of art, including paintings, sculpture, photographs, and time-based media by artists from Africa, Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean, bring these narratives to life.

This exhibition was initially presented as Histórias Afro-Atlânticas in 2018 by the Museu de Arte de São Paulo in Brazil.

(Text courtesy of the National Gallery of Art)