Art of Living Black
Art of the African Diaspora 2026
Richmond Art Center
Ongoing – March 14
(Some Satellite Shows run through June)
Douglas Doss, His World … Our Hands
A Little History
I confess that I am a sucker for context, so I enjoy sharing a bit of history when I describe the exhibits mentioned in these Blogs. I’ve described the origins of this particular event in my 2025 email. However, its history deserves a retelling.
Art Of The African Diaspora is the longest running event of its kind in the Bay Area. It originated from a salon for African American artists known as “Colors of Black” that was organized in 1989 by artist and UC-Berkeley Professor Marie Johnson Calloway.
In 1996, artists Jan Hart-Schuyers and Rae Louise Hayward established the exhibition The Art of Living Black at the Richmond Art Center. Many of the artists from the Colors of Black salon participated in the inaugural exhibition, which presented the work of emerging and established African American artists. The artists gained introductions to new audiences and access to build a creative community of artists and art lovers. In 2019, with the continual growth and development of the exhibition, the organizers became aware of the need to incorporate a broader vision of the African Diaspora and consequently renamed the annual presentation – Art Of The African Diaspora.
As always, AOTAD starts with the latest mask artwork from Ashlei Kego
2026 Exhibition
With 160 artists (some with multiple works) and with 45 satellite venues, the 2026 presentation of Art of the African Diaspora invites you in, helps you find moments of joy and occasionally challenges you – as all good art does. With satellite locations as close as Oakland (8), Berkeley (2), Alameda (3), El Cerrito (2) and, of course throughout Richmond (7 – not counting RAC), a quick trip in your car will give you multiple opportunities for viewings, even if you don’t feel adventurous enough to go through a tunnel or cross a toll bridge.
Amy Spencer, community engagement director at the Richmond Art Center observed, “Now more than ever, it’s essential to provide exposure and access for all to art – viewing it, learning art history and space to create it.” Of course, “viewing it” is something you can do right now. Here is just a small taste of the breadth and depth of works on display.
deNice; Julie Atkinson and Zoë Boston
James Moore, Dancing in Air
This work sits atop a metal pole approximately four feet tall.
Paradise
As a recipient of last year’s Artistic Achievement Award and this year’s Keynote Speaker, Paradise also had the honor of an entire wall dedicated to his works this year..
K. Dollar-Dickinson; Lorraine Bonner and MYCHAL
Stacy Mootoo; Stephen Bruce [a single image from a digital artwork – this image cannot do justice to the extraordinary piece] and Lorraine Bonner
Kelvin Curry; JIBCA and Lynette Parker
Virginia Jourdan
Special Events
James Moore, Strike
Macy’s Union Square through March 7 (Closing Reception 1:00-3:00)
Curated by Chamia LaRae, it features eight artists.
“I recognize the importance of the location and how it’s symbolic of affluence and San Francisco’s revitalization,” LaRae said. “I want to honor that while not just having something expected. …[These works] all have a lot of elegance.”
Public Art in Our Communities, RAC, February 21, Noon-1:30pm
A featured speaker event.
In conjunction with the installation of the James Moore sculpture, Strike, at Shields-Reid Park.
Moore notes, “Getting any group of artists together is like a roomful of cats, and getting them moving in the same direction is hard. But there is a community united by passion for their art and it really coalesces around events like this.”
For more information about the Richmond Art Center and this exhibition, click here.
