Celebrating Black History Month 2024

As we commemorate Black History Month this year, we’re inspired by this year’s theme: African Americans and the Arts, highlighting the incredible contributions Black and African Americans have made to culture and the arts. To celebrate these artists, authors and leaders, we compiled a list of museums and exhibits showcasing Black and African American art in our home cities. This list is by no means exhaustive, and we encourage you to explore more opportunities to appreciate Black art in your hometown.

Philadelphia

African American Museum in Philadelphia – Founded in 1976 in celebration of the nation’s Bicentennial, the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP) is the first institution funded and built by a major municipality to preserve, interpret and exhibit the heritage of African Americans.

Paul Robeson House & Museum – The Paul Robeson House was the home of internationally renowned American bass-baritone concert singer, actor of film and stage, All-American and professional athlete, writer, multi-lingual orator, human rights activist, and lawyer Paul Robeson from 1966 until 1976. Located in West Philadelphia, the Robeson House produces, presents and promotes traveling lectures, concerts and exhibits so that learning about Robeson is accessible to all ages and cultures.

Barnes Foundation – Through August 15, 2024, the Barnes Foundation is showcasing an exhibit titled “Education & Empowerment: Scholarship Recipients at the Barnes Foundation, 1927–1949” featuring four scholars whose research was supported by the Barnes in the 20th century— trailblazing art historian, Paul B. Moses; singer and musician, Ablyne Lockhart; civic leader, medical doctor, and military officer, Dr. DeHaven Hinkson; and Harlem Renaissance painter, Aaron Douglas.

Chicago

DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center – A Chicago community institution and the first non-profit Museum dedicated to the collection, documentation, preservation, study and the dissemination of the history and culture of Africans and African Americans.

Hyde Park Art Center – The Hyde Park Art Center is a hub for contemporary arts in Chicago, serving as a gathering and production space for artists and the broader community to cultivate ideas, impact social change, and connect with new networks. Through March 3, 2024, the Hyde Park Art Center is showcasing, “The Alien‐Nations and Sovereign States of Octavia E Butler,” Chicago‐based artist Candace Hunter’s largest solo exhibition to date.

Chicago History Museum – The Chicago History Museum is the museum of the Chicago Historical Society, founded in 1856 to study and interpret the history of Chicago. For Black History Month, the museum will be hosting an exhibition titled “Remembering Dr. King,” featuring over 25 photographs depicting key moments in Dr. King’s work and the Civil Rights Movement, with a special focus on his time in Chicago.

Museum of Industry & Science – The Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago—one of the largest science museums in the world—is home to more than 400,000 square feet of hands-on exhibits designed to spark scientific inquiry and creativity. Through April 21, 2024, the Museum is exhibiting the “Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition,”— the longest-running exhibition of African American art which has been displayed annually at the museum since 1970. It features paintings, drawings, fine art prints, sculpture, mixed-media, ceramics and photography by African Americans, including youth artists between the ages of 14 and 17.

New York City

Louis Armstrong House Museum – This museum sustains and promotes the cultural, historical, and humanitarian legacy of Louis Armstrong by preserving and interpreting Armstrong’s house and grounds, collecting and sharing archival materials that document Armstrong’s life and legacy, developing programs for the public that educate and inspire, and engaging with contemporary artists to create performances and new works. All month, the museum will offer a special tour centering on Louis Armstrong and Civil Rights in America.

Brooklyn Museum – The Brooklyn Museum art museum located in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. At 560,000 square feet, the museum is New York City’s second largest and contains an art collection with around 500,000 objects. Through February 11, 2024, the Brooklyn Museum is exhibiting “Spike Lee: Creative Sources,” highlighting one of America’s most prolific filmmakers and directors. Beginning on February 10 and running through July 7, the museum will also be exhibiting “Giant: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys,” featuring artists such as Gordon Parks, Kehinde Wiley, Esther Mahlangu, Derrick Adams, Arthur Jafa, and Meleko Mokgosi.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art – The Met is one of the largest museums in the world, featuring many exhibits highlighting Black artists and movements such as the Harlem Renaissance. In celebration of Black History Month, the Met is hosting month-long programming including “A Musical Celebration of Black History Month with Harpist Brandee Younger” and “Met Expert Talks—Celebrating Black History Month.”

The Paley Center for Media – The Paley Center for Media is an American cultural institution dedicated to the discussion of the cultural, creative, and social significance of television, radio, and emerging platforms for the professional community and media-interested public. In celebration of Black History Month, the Paley Museum will explore the legacies of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X by spotlighting the latest installment of National Geographic’s Emmy-winning Genius anthology series, Genius: MLK/X.

Los Angeles

The Museum of African American Art – The Museum of African American Art in Los Angeles is a non-profit educational and cultural institution dedicated to the interpretation, promotion, and preservation of African American art and culture. It offers free admission and serves as a gathering space for the community, offering educational experiences for students and lifelong learners.

California African American Museum – Located at Exposition Park in Downtown LA, the California African American Museum (CAAM) exists to research, collect, preserve and interpret the history, art and culture of African Americans. The museum’s permanent collection houses 4,000 objects that span landscape painting and portraiture, modern and contemporary art, historical objects and print materials, and mixed-media artworks.

Art + Practice – Art + Practice (A+P) is a private operating 501(c)3 foundation based in the neighborhood of Leimert Park in South Los Angeles. A+P supports the local needs of transition-age foster youth, and children experiencing displacement worldwide through its collaborations with nonprofit social service providers First Place for Youth and Nest Global. A+P also provides Angelenos with free access to museum-curated contemporary art, organized by the California African American Museum. 

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures – The largest museum in the United States devoted to the arts, sciences, and artists of moviemaking. During the month of February, the museum will be hosting “Black History Mini Docs,” highlighting the contributions of iconic Black figures in American history through quick and entertaining videos. This exhibition will run on Friday afternoons. Additionally, as part of their “Significant Movies and Moviemakers” exhibition, the museum is spotlighting “Boyz N the Hood” and its depiction of Black life in South Central Los Angeles as well as its lasting impact in popular culture.

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