Kavi Gupta Gallery
Skip to main content
  • Menu
  • Artists
  • Exhibitions
  • News
  • Viewing Room
  • Editions
  • Events & Art Fairs
  • Public Works
  • Podcast
  • Information
  • Mission
Menu

Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power: Brooklyn Museum | NY

Past exhibition
14 September 2018 - 3 February 2019
  • Overview
  • Works
  • Installation Views
  • Videos
  • Press
Overview
Jae Jarrell Brothers Surrounding Sis, 1970 Acrylic paint on suede Dimensions variable
Jae Jarrell
Brothers Surrounding Sis, 1970
Acrylic paint on suede
Dimensions variable

Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power shines light on a broad spectrum of Black artistic practice from 1963 to 1983, one of the most politically, socially, and aesthetically revolutionary periods in American history. Black artists across the country worked in communities, in collectives, and individually to create a range of art responsive to the moment—including figurative and abstract painting, prints, and photography; assemblage and sculpture; and performance.

Many of the over 150 artworks in the exhibition directly address the unjust social conditions facing Black Americans, such as Faith Ringgold’s painting featuring a “bleeding” flag and Emory Douglas’s graphic images of beleaguered Black city life. Additional works present oblique references to racial violence, such as Jack Whitten’s abstract tribute to Malcolm X, made in response to the activist's assassination, or Melvin Edwards’s contorted metal sculptures. Working as a collective, members of the AfriCOBRA group presented images of uplift and empowerment. Barkley Hendricks, Emma Amos, and others painted everyday portraits of Black people with reverence and wit. All the artists embraced a spirit of aesthetic innovation, but some took this as their primary goal, often through experiments with color and paint application.

 

This exhibition brings together for the first time the excitingly disparate practices of more than sixty Black artists from this important moment, offering an unparalleled opportunity to see their extraordinary works side by side.

 

Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power is organized by Tate Modern in collaboration with the Brooklyn Museum and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, and The Broad, Los Angeles, and curated by Mark Godfrey, Senior Curator, International Art, and Zoe Whitley, Curator, International Art, Tate Modern. The Brooklyn Museum presentation is curated by Ashley James, Assistant Curator, Contemporary Art, Brooklyn Museum.

 

Leadership support for this exhibition is provided by the Ford Foundation, the Terra Foundation for American Art, Universal Music Group, and the Henry Luce Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Brooklyn Museum's Contemporary Art Committee, the Arnold Lehman Exhibition Fund, Christie’s, Raymond Learsy, Saundra Williams-Cornwell and W. Don Cornwell, Crystal McCrary and Raymond J. McGuire, Megan and Hunter Gray, the Hayden Family Foundation, Carol Sutton Lewis and William Lewis, Valerie Gerrard Browne, Hales Gallery, Tracey and Phillip Riese, Connie Rogers Tilton, and Jack Shainman Gallery.

 

— Curatorial text courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum of Art

  • Official Brooklyn Museum site
Share
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Email
Works
  • Jae Jarrell Brothers Surrounding Sis, 1970 Acrylic paint on suede Dimensions variable
    Jae Jarrell
    Brothers Surrounding Sis, 1970
    Acrylic paint on suede
    Dimensions variable
  • Wadsworth Jarrell Revolutionary, 1972 Screenprint printed in color on white wove paper 33 x 26 in 83 x 66 cm Edition of 300 + 18 APs + 17 Color Trial Proofs
    Wadsworth Jarrell
    Revolutionary, 1972
    Screenprint printed in color on white wove paper
    33 x 26 in
    83 x 66 cm
    Edition of 300 + 18 APs + 17 Color Trial Proofs
  • Barbara Jones-Hogu Unite, 1971 Screenprint on wove paper 22 x 30 in 55.9 x 76.2 cm
    Barbara Jones-Hogu
    Unite, 1971
    Screenprint on wove paper
    22 x 30 in
    55.9 x 76.2 cm
  • Barbara Jones-Hogu High Priestess, 1971 Screenprint on wove paper 22 x 15 in 55.9 x 38.1 cm
    Barbara Jones-Hogu
    High Priestess, 1971
    Screenprint on wove paper
    22 x 15 in
    55.9 x 38.1 cm
  • Jeff Donaldson Victory in the Valley of Eshu, 1971 Screenprint on wove paper 40 x 30 in 101.6 x 76.2 cm
    Jeff Donaldson
    Victory in the Valley of Eshu, 1971
    Screenprint on wove paper
    40 x 30 in
    101.6 x 76.2 cm
Installation Views
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 02 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 01 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 03 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 06 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 04 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 07 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 05 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 10 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 12 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 13 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 11 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 16 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 14 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 15 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 18 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 09 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 17 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 22 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 21 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 19 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 25 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 23 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 26 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 28 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 29 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 30 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 27 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 24 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 31 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 32 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 33 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 36 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 37 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 35 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 34 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 39 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 38 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 40 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 42 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 43 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 44 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 41 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 45 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 47 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 46 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 50 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 48 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 51 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 49 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 54 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 53 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 55 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 52 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 56 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 57 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 58 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 59 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 60 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 08 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 62 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 63 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 61 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 64 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 65 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 69 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 68 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 66 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 74 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 72 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 73 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 75 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 77 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 76 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 78 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 79 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 80 Ps11
  • Merlin 143612703 20519B2E C03B 4349 8733 804Ddeda6060 Jumbo
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 71 Ps11
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 67 Ps11
  • Merlin 143653248 5E7E9393 B9D5 4435 Aee0 78991B0Af173 Jumbo
  • Dig E 2018 Soul Of A Nation 70 Ps11
Videos
  • Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power

    Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power

    Read more
Press
  • Wadsworth Jarrel and Jae Jarrell's work in Soul of a Nation at the Brooklyn Museum

    RADIANT AND RADICAL: 20 YEARS OF DEFINING THE SOUL OF BLACK ART

    Holland Cotter, New York Times, September 13, 2018
  • Work by Gerald Williams in Soul of a Nation at the TATE

    ‘SOUL OF A NATION,’ CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED EXHIBIT CELEBRATING BLACK POWER, COMES TO BROOKLYN

    Andrea Leonhardt, BK reader, May 30, 2018

Related artists

  • Jeff Donaldson

    Jeff Donaldson

  • Jae Jarrell

    Jae Jarrell

  • Wadsworth Jarrell

    Wadsworth Jarrell

  • Barbara Jones-Hogu

    Barbara Jones-Hogu

  • Gerald Williams

    Gerald Williams

Back to exhibitions

Contact: +1  708-480-2882

General Inquiries: info@kavigupta.com

Media Inquiries: media@kavigupta.com

Client & Sales Inquiries: client@kavigupta.com

Publications: Kavi Gupta Editions

Facebook Twitter Instagram Newsletter

Kavi Gupta Washington Blvd

835 W. Washington Blvd. Chicago, IL 60607

Hours | Tue–Fri: 11 am–6 pm, Sat: 12 pm–5 pm

Kavi Gupta Elizabeth St

219 N. Elizabeth St. Chicago, IL 60607 
Hours | By appointment only

 

 

Kavi Gupta Warehouse

2108 S. California Ave. Chicago, IL 60608

Kavi Gupta New Buffalo

215 E. Buffalo St. #219 New Buffalo, MI 49117

Instagram, opens in a new tab.
Artsy, opens in a new tab.
Join the mailing list
View on Google Maps
Ocula, opens in a new tab.
Manage cookies
2025 Kavi Gupta
Site by Artlogic

This website uses cookies
This site uses cookies to help make it more useful to you. Please contact us to find out more about our Cookie Policy.

Manage cookies
Accept

Cookie preferences

Check the boxes for the cookie categories you allow our site to use

Cookie options
Required for the website to function and cannot be disabled.
Improve your experience on the website by storing choices you make about how it should function.
Allow us to collect anonymous usage data in order to improve the experience on our website.
Allow us to identify our visitors so that we can offer personalised, targeted marketing.
Save preferences