The Cherry Basket series is back with a refreshed look! Each month, Black Cherry will share noteworthy art exhibitions and cultural activations across New York, Los Angeles, London, and Paris with an emphasis on Black artists.
Hope you can pick something sweet this month ❤️ 🍒
New York
GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN: Black Folx And Their Church
- What: From our ancestral rituals, traditions of Christianity, and remnants of the colonial systems we’ve endured, curator Alyssa Alexander’s Go Tell It On The Mountain sheds light on Black spiritual identities across the diaspora. The exhibition features artists working across painting, photography, sculpture, and multimedia installation who explore how Black people have approached their complex relationships with spirituality.
- Who: Adama Delphine Fawundu, Le’Andra LeSeur, Lloyd Foster, Xayvier Haughton, Y. Malik Jalal, Basil Kincaid, Joe Minter, Ambrose Rhapsody Murray, ms z tye, Joseph Cochran II, Lamar Robillard, Renée Stout, Shikeith, Nyugen E. Smith, Chiffon Thomas
- Where: Swivel Gallery (1396 Johnson Ave|Brooklyn)
- When: February 22 – March 23
Going Dark: The Contemporary Figure at the Edge of Visibility
- What: The artists featured in Going Dark have created works at the “edge of visibility.” Figures are hidden and bodies are concealed in pieces spanning across figuration and abstraction. With a group of 28 artists and over 100 pieces, many of which are from the 1980’s till present day, Going Dark challenges our vision and explores the tension around visibility in our society.
- Who: Sondra Perry, American Artist, Ming Smith, Tomashi Jackson, Dawoud Bey, Tiona Nekkia McClodden, Sandra Mujinga, Faith Ringgold, Lorna Simpson, Carrie Mae Weems, Sable Elyse Smith, and more.
- Where: Guggenheim Museum New York (1071 Fifth Avenue|New York)
- When: October 20, 2023–April 7, 2024
Orlando Estrada & Shani Strand: Procession
- What: Showcasing new works from Orlando Estrada & Shani Strand, Procession explores themes of violence, colonialism, religion, and mysticism. Sculptural pieces are shown by both artists that prompt viewers to contemplate our shared existence. Strand’s practice focuses on histories of violence and the concept of ungovernability, with an emphasis on the Black and Jamaican diasporas. Orlando engages with themes of identity, post naturalism and the human condition, with pieces that depict dreamlike worlds that blend natural and synthetic materials.
- Who: Orlando Estrada & Shani Strand
- Where: Rachel Uffner Gallery (170 Suffolk Street|New York)
- When: March 8 – April 29
The Harlem Renaissance and Transatlantic Modernism
- What: The first NYC art museum survey on The Harlem Renaissance in since 1987, this exhibition features 160 works of painting, sculpture, photography, film, and ephemera that establishes the era as a key moment for the development of international modern art. The exhibition shows the ways Black artists portrayed modern life through the early decades of the Great Migration (1920s–40s), in New York City’s Harlem and across the nation.
- Who: Meta Warrick Fuller, Archibald Motley, Augusta Savage, Laura Wheeler Waring, James Van Der Zee, Charles Alston, Aaron Douglas, William H. Johnson, Winold Reiss
- Where: The Met Fifth Avenue (1000 Fifth Avenue|New York)
- When: February 25–July 28
Los Angeles
- What: A collaboration between Abigail Ogilvy Gallery & Cierra Britton Gallery, Déjà Vu dives into the concept of multiple realities and imagined worlds. Referencing the French phrase for feeling as though someone has lived through a present situation before, the exhibition sheds light on memory and perception, while also tapping into the theme of escapism.
- Who: Autumn Breon, Uzumaki Cepeda, Alanis Forde, Lewinale Havette, Jazmine Hayes, Monica Hernandez, Rugiyatou Ylva Jallow, Ambrose Rhapsody Murray, Kelli Ryan
- Where: Abigail Ogilvy Gallery (1923 S. Santa Fe Avenue|Los Angeles)
- When: February 21 – March 30
- What: Paintings by Trinidadian-American actor, dancer, musician and artist Geoffrey Holder are highlighted in his first Los Angeles solo exhibition. From intimate portrayals of domestic life to bustling city scenes, Holder’s paintings spanning from the 1950s to the 2000s capture the essence of Black culture with depth and vibrancy. His timeless compositions offer an exciting exploration of Black identity and the human experience.
- Who: Geoffrey Holder
- Where: James Fuentes Gallery Los Angeles (5015 Melrose Ave|Los Angeles)
- When: February 24—April 6, 2024
London
- What: Known for his experimentation and innovation within the tradition of portraiture, the debut UK exhibition of South London artist & musician Cato features large scale portraits merging collage, airbrush and acrylics. Seen, references the Jamaican phrase which means “understood,” connecting to the relationship Cato has with the subjects of his portraits, and his personal understanding of their circumstances and identities.
- Who: Cato
- Where: Cooke Latham Gallery (41 Parkgate Road|London, SW11 4NP)
- When: March 7 – March 28
- What: From the innocent charm of emojis to the irresistible appeal of internet memes, our world has been overtaken by cuteness. CUTE is an exploration of this phenomenon, showcasing contemporary artworks and cultural icons that celebrate adorable imagery. Through new artist commissions and an array of cultural artifacts like plushies and video games, the exhibition delves into the allure of cuteness and its influence on our culture.
- Who: Sean-Kierre Lyons, AYA TAKANO, Mike Kelley, Cosima von Bonin, Hannah Diamond, Juliana Huxtable, Alake Shilling, Ram Han, Bunny Rogers, Flannery Silva, Sian Fan, and more.
- Where: Somerset House (Strand|London, WC2R 1LA)
- When: January 25 – April 14
- What: Soulscapes is a contemporary retelling of landscape art from artists within the African Diaspora. With over 30 works, the exhibition highlights the power of landscape art and how it ties into belonging, memory, joy and transformation.
- Who: Phoebe Boswell, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Kimathi Donkor, Hurvin Anderson, Isaac Julien, Marcia Michael, Mónica de Miranda and Alberta Whittle.
- Where: Dulwich Picture Gallery (Gallery Road |London, SE21 7AD)
- When: February 14 – June 2
Paris
- What: In her fifth show with Cadet Capela, multidisciplinary artist Cydne Jasmin Coleby will present works of self-portraiture.
- Who: Cydne Jasmin Coleby
- Where: Cadet Capela (54 Rue Chapon|Paris)
- When: March 9 – April 20