Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power

Overview of the Exhibition

  • Title: "Soul of a Nation"

  • Focus: Work of over 60 Black artists in the US during the turbulent 1960s.

  • Significance: Highlights the revolutionary political, aesthetic, and social periods in American history.

  • Starting point: Initiated in 1963 with the March on Washington.

Historical Context

  • The 1960s were marked by significant societal changes.

  • The Civil Rights Movement's aftermath and the disillusionment that followed.

  • Influential movements:

    • Black Panther Movement: Advocated for civil rights and social justice.

    • Black Arts Movement: Cultural movement that sought to redefine Black identity and art.

    • Black Power Movement: Aimed to establish a sense of community empowerment and self-identity among Black Americans.

Themes Explored

  • Empowerment Through Art: Artists sought to create their own images of strength and empowerment, defying societal norms.

  • Black Aesthetic: Discussion on defining a distinct Black aesthetic emphasizing cultural identity and spiritual needs.

  • The duality of expression: Featured works were both:

    • Abstract: Non-representational art.

    • Figurative: Art that represents real-life figures and scenarios.

Artistic Practices

  • Mediums used by artists included:

    • Painting

    • Sculpture

    • Assemblage (art made by assembling disparate elements)

    • Printmaking

    • Photography

    • Performance Art

  • Significance of this diversity in media reflects a time of cultural and spiritual exploration.

Venue and Audience Impact

  • Brooklyn's Diversity: Selected for its dynamic and diverse community.

  • Artists draw inspiration from ongoing movements and continue to push for change.

  • The exhibition emphasizes resilience and the ongoing evolution of Black art and culture.

The Role of the Artist

  • Artists are seen as survivors and changemakers in society.

  • Importance of continuing the narrative and legacy of Black art.

  • The exhibition serves as a source of courage and inspiration for both artists and viewers, illustrating that the work is ongoing and persistent.

Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power shines light on a broad spectrum of Black artistic practice from 1963 to 1983, one of the most politically, socially, and aesthetically revolutionary periods in American history. Black artists across the country worked in communities, in collectives, and individually to create a range of art responsive to the moment—including figurative and abstract painting, prints, and photography; assemblage and sculpture; and performance.

Many of the over 150 artworks in the exhibition directly address the unjust social conditions facing Black Americans, such as Faith Ringgold’s painting featuring a “bleeding” flag and Emory Douglas’s graphic images of beleaguered Black city life. Additional works present oblique references to racial violence, such as Jack Whitten’s abstract tribute to Malcolm X, made in response to the activist's assassination, or Melvin Edwards’s contorted metal sculptures. Working as a collective, members of the AfriCOBRA group presented images of uplift and empowerment. Barkley Hendricks, Emma Amos, and others painted everyday portraits of Black people with reverence and wit. All the artists embraced a spirit of aesthetic innovation, but some took this as their primary goal, often through experiments with color and paint application.

This exhibition brings together for the first time the excitingly disparate practices of more than sixty Black artists from this important moment, offering an unparalleled opportunity to see their extraordinary works side by side.

Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power is organized by Tate Modern in collaboration with the Brooklyn Museum and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, and The Broad, Los Angeles, and curated by Mark Godfrey, Senior Curator, International Art, and Zoe Whitley, Curator, International Art, Tate Modern. The Brooklyn Museum presentation is curated by Ashley James, Assistant Curator, Contemporary Art, Brooklyn Museum.

Leadership support for this exhibition is provided by the Ford Foundation, the Terra Foundation for American Art, Universal Music Group, and the Henry Luce Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Brooklyn Museum's Contemporary Art Committee, the Arnold Lehman Exhibition Fund, Christie’s, Raymond Learsy, Saundra Williams-Cornwell and W. Don Cornwell, Crystal McCrary and Raymond J. McGuire, Megan and Hunter Gray, the Hayden Family Foundation, Carol Sutton Lewis and William Lewis, Valerie Gerrard Browne, Hales Gallery, Tracey and Phillip Riese, Connie Rogers Tilton, and Jack Shainman Gallery.