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Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power: Museum of Fine Arts | Houston, TX

Past exhibition
27 June - 30 August 2020
  • Overview
  • Works
  • Installation Views
Overview
Gerald Williams Take It, 1971 Acrylic on masonite 50 x 50 x 2 1/2 in 127 x 127 x 6.3 cm
Gerald Williams
Take It, 1971
Acrylic on masonite
50 x 50 x 2 1/2 in
127 x 127 x 6.3 cm

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, presents Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power, featuring work by more than 60 Black artists that was created over two revolutionary decades in American history. 

 

The exhibition, organized by Tate Modern in London, was slated to open at the MFAH in April, but it was delayed because of the pandemic lockdown at the previous venue in San Francisco, the de Young Museum. Soul of a Nation is on view in Houston from June 27 through August 30 as the final presentation of the three-year tour.

 

Soul of a Nation explores what it meant to be a Black artist in America during two revolutionary decades, from the 1960s and the Civil Rights movement to the early 1980s and the emergence of identity politics. The story unfolds in thematic sections, with a special emphasis on aligned groups in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, and another focus on the work of artist Betye Saar. Among the many other artists featured are Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Roy DeCarava, David Hammons, Lorraine O’Grady, and Faith Ringgold.

 

The MFAH presentation adds a section with a number of works from the Museum’s collections to spotlight the legacy of Black American art made in Houston and Texas during this period. Artists represented in this gallery include John Biggers, Kermit Oliver, and Carroll Harris Simms, all of whom contributed to the dynamic local arts scene.

 

– Curatorial text courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

  • Visit Museum of Fine Arts Houston website Site
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Works
  • Gerald Williams Take It, 1971 Acrylic on masonite 50 x 50 x 2 1/2 in 127 x 127 x 6.3 cm
    Gerald Williams
    Take It, 1971
    Acrylic on masonite
    50 x 50 x 2 1/2 in
    127 x 127 x 6.3 cm
  • Jae Jarrell Brothers Surrounding Sis, 1970 Acrylic paint on suede Dimensions variable
    Jae Jarrell
    Brothers Surrounding Sis, 1970
    Acrylic paint on suede
    Dimensions variable
  • Jae Jarrell Revolutionary Suit, 1970 Wool, suede, wood, pigment
    Jae Jarrell
    Revolutionary Suit, 1970
    Wool, suede, wood, pigment
  • 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
  • Jeff Donaldson, Victory in the Valley of Eshu, 1971
    Jeff Donaldson, Victory in the Valley of Eshu, 1971
  • 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
  • Gerald Williams, Nation Time, 1969

    Gerald Williams, Nation Time, 1969

  • Gerald Williams Wake Up , 1971 Screenprint on wove paper 42 x 28 in 106.7 x 71.1 cm
    Gerald Williams
    Wake Up , 1971
    Screenprint on wove paper
    42 x 28 in
    106.7 x 71.1 cm
Installation Views
  • Soul Of A Nation Installation Opening Banner 360905543954374521
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  • Soul Of A Nation Installation View 17966003108288076953
  • Screen Shot 2020 11 09 At 1 24 09 Pm
  • Screen Shot 2020 11 09 At 1 22 48 Pm
  • Screen Shot 2020 11 09 At 1 25 49 Pm
  • Screen Shot 2020 11 09 At 1 23 03 Pm

Related artists

  • Jeff Donaldson

    Jeff Donaldson

  • Jae Jarrell

    Jae Jarrell

  • Wadsworth Jarrell

    Wadsworth Jarrell

  • Barbara Jones-Hogu

    Barbara Jones-Hogu

  • Gerald Williams

    Gerald Williams

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