Black Refractions
Sept. 14 - Dec. 8, 2019

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
435 West South Street
Kalamazoo, MI 49007


For the first time in its history, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (KIA) is temporarily removing its permanent collection to make way for Black Refractions, a traveling exhibit that showcases 100 years of creative history and achievements by artists of African descent. Kalamazoo was chosen as one of only six exhibition venues in the country -- and the only in the Midwest.

Black Refractions comprises more than 90 works by 77 artists and will fill all of the main floor KIA galleries. The KIA will also present two accompanying exhibitions, Resilience: Black Artists as Agents of Change and Where We Stand: Black Artists in Southwest Michigan to highlight local artists of African decent.

The exhibitions will offer a unified narrative about the development of Black artists in the 20th and 21st centuries with the understanding that there is no single narrative among Black artists or their art.

Kalamazoo Community Foundation proudly supports creating equitable spaces in our community to show appreciation for and learn more about artists of African decent artists. For more information, visit kiarts.org.

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