Afro-Atlantic Histories is the title of a touring art exhibition first held jointly at the São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP) and the Instituto Tomie Ohtake in Brazil in 2018. The exhibition was made up of artworks and historical artifacts from and about the African diaspora, specifically focusing "on the 'ebbs and flows' among Africa, Americas, Caribbean and also Europe." Built around the concept of histórias, a Portuguese term that can include fictional and non-fictional narratives, Afro-Atlantic Histories explores the artistic, political, social, and personal impacts and legacies of the Transatlantic slave trade. The exhibition was hailed by critics as a landmark show of diasporic African art.
Original 2018 exhibition catalogue, featuring Zeferina (2018) by Dalton Paula
McPherson & Oliver: The Scourged Back (1863), portrait of Gordon
John Quincy Adams Ward: The Freedman (1862-1863)
Attributed to José Montes de Oca: Saint Benedict of Palermo (c.1734)
David C. Driskell was an American artist, scholar and curator; recognized for his work in establishing African-American Art as a distinct field of study. In his lifetime, Driskell was cited as one of the world's leading authorities on the subject of African-American Art. Driskell held the title of Distinguished University Professor of Art, Emeritus, at the University of Maryland, College Park. The David C. Driskell Center at the University of Maryland, is named in his honor.
David Driskell
Woman with Flowers by David Driskell, 1972
The University of Maryland, College Park Art Gallery celebrated its 50th anniversary on Feb. 24, 2016, with a memorable art exhibition. Among those attending were President Wallace Loh and his wife, Barbara, on the left; and Prof. David C. Driskell, along with Prof. Dagmar R. Henney, on the right. Photo courtesy University of Maryland Art Gallery, used with permission.
Current Forms: Yoruba Circle (1969) at the National Gallery of Art's showing of Afro-Atlantic Histories in Washington, D.C., in 2022