The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts recently announced that Kwame Brathwaite: The 1970s, is on view now through Oct. 12.
Photographer Kwame Brathwaite, who died in 2023, created the visual overture for the Black is Beautiful Movement in the late 50s and early 60s. This intimate exhibition will highlight 16 of the artist’s independent studio works created during the 1970s. Working with The Kwame Brathwaite Archive, AMFA proudly announces that the exhibition features three never-before-seen images.
“Brathwaite’s work is a testament to the power of art as activism,” said Victoria Ramirez, Executive Director of AMFA. “This exhibition honors his extraordinary vision and role in shaping cultural identity through photography and brings his vibrant legacy into dialogue with today's conversations around beauty, representation, and self-determination. We are proud to have these works at AMFA.”
Untitled (Studio shoot with Marcia McBroom. Album cover for The Players’ Association featuring David Sanborn and Mtume) | Kwame Brathwaite | Kwame Brathwaite (New York, New York, 1938 - New York, New York, 2023), Untitled (Studio shoot with Marcia McBroom. Album cover for The Players’ Association featuring David Sanborn and Mtume), 1976, archival pigment print, 15 x 15 in., Courtesy of Philip Martin Gallery and The Kwame Brathwaite Archive.
The newly released images include portraits of model and designer Carolee Prince, singer and songwriter Teddy Pendergrass, and a striking group shot of four models against a purple background.
The exhibition, Kwame Brathwaite: The 1970s, shows a more experimental and expressive side of Brathwaite’s photography —one where color, composition, and cultural storytelling take center stage.
Upcoming events
Guided Tours: Museum guests can enjoy a free, docent-led tour of Kwame Brathwaite: The 1970s. Guided tours are offered on April 26, June 21, and July 26, at 10:30 a.m. Tickets are free, and registration is recommended at events.arkmfa.org.
Pine Bluff Through the Lens with Michael Grice: On June 18, Michael Grice, the son of ‘Arkansas’s most prolific photographer’ Geleve Grice, will delve into his father’s legacy of documenting Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
A Legacy of Images: Art Talk with Kwame Brathwaite Jr.: On July 31, the artist’s son, Kwame Brathwaite, Jr., will offer a unique and personal perspective on Brathwaite’s work and legacy.
Share this post
Kwame Brathwaite: The 1970s now open at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts
Share this post
The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts recently announced that Kwame Brathwaite: The 1970s, is on view now through Oct. 12.
Photographer Kwame Brathwaite, who died in 2023, created the visual overture for the Black is Beautiful Movement in the late 50s and early 60s. This intimate exhibition will highlight 16 of the artist’s independent studio works created during the 1970s. Working with The Kwame Brathwaite Archive, AMFA proudly announces that the exhibition features three never-before-seen images.
“Brathwaite’s work is a testament to the power of art as activism,” said Victoria Ramirez, Executive Director of AMFA. “This exhibition honors his extraordinary vision and role in shaping cultural identity through photography and brings his vibrant legacy into dialogue with today's conversations around beauty, representation, and self-determination. We are proud to have these works at AMFA.”
The newly released images include portraits of model and designer Carolee Prince, singer and songwriter Teddy Pendergrass, and a striking group shot of four models against a purple background.
The exhibition, Kwame Brathwaite: The 1970s, shows a more experimental and expressive side of Brathwaite’s photography —one where color, composition, and cultural storytelling take center stage.
Upcoming events
Guided Tours: Museum guests can enjoy a free, docent-led tour of Kwame Brathwaite: The 1970s. Guided tours are offered on April 26, June 21, and July 26, at 10:30 a.m. Tickets are free, and registration is recommended at events.arkmfa.org.
Pine Bluff Through the Lens with Michael Grice: On June 18, Michael Grice, the son of ‘Arkansas’s most prolific photographer’ Geleve Grice, will delve into his father’s legacy of documenting Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
A Legacy of Images: Art Talk with Kwame Brathwaite Jr.: On July 31, the artist’s son, Kwame Brathwaite, Jr., will offer a unique and personal perspective on Brathwaite’s work and legacy.