The Cleveland Museum of Art opens ‘The New Black Vanguard’ Exhibit

“The New Black Vanguard: Photography between Art and Fashion” focuses on fifteen artists who have melded art, fashion and photography. The exhibit is designed to open dialogue about how Black bodies and Black lives are represented as subjects of art. The collection features the work of photographers, stylists and models celebrating Black creativity. The exhibit will be open to the public through September 11, 2022.

According to William M. Griswold, director of the Cleveland Museum of Art, “The New Black Vanguard” focuses on contemporary portrayals of Black figures and re-frames established representational patterns. The international photographers and stylists in this stunning exhibition reinforce the significance of the Black creator and model. The show embodies our commitment to the vibrant arts of Africa and the African diaspora, and it foregrounds fashion as theme central to the work of some of our newest curatorial voices.”

For too long the thought has prevailed that Blackness was in a word homogenous or having a sameness to it. The New Black Vanguard challenges to change that narrative by presenting new perspectives through the medium of photography forever bending the ideas of race, beauty, gender and power. The examples shown are from men and women working in very different situations and locations including New York City, Johannesburg, Lagos and London. Many of the works have appeared in traditional lifestyle magazines, ad campaigns, social media channels and museums around the world thus being a world changing influence in their own right.

Organizing of the exhibition is by Aperture, New York and curated by Antwaun Sargent who is himself a curator and critic. Along with the photographs seen hanging on the walls Cleveland has an added unique touch in the form of mannequins dressed by three stylists in fashionable looks that give a 3D representation of the art. Arielle Bobb-Willis and Daniel Obasi who are stylists and photographers as well as stylist Jermaine Daley have each produced a stunning representation of what the role of stylist has in regards to fashion.

The exhibit was installed through the collaboration of three museum staff members: Barbara Tannenbaum, curator of photography as well as fashion historians Darnell-Jamal Lisby, assistant curator and Sarah Scaturro with help from Eric and Jane Nord, chief Conservator. The trio notes that it has only been recently that Black bodies showing an authentic and diverse representation of Black experiences have been included in fashion magazines and ad campaigns. The show challenges the concept of Eurocentric definitions of beauty, privilege, power, class and freedom.

Featured in the show are photographers Tyler Mitchell, Awol Erizku, Micaiah Carter and Namsa Leuba along with salon wall featured works by 23 emerging Black photographers. The exhibit also includes collections of present and historic examples of Black figures in publications and packaging such as vinyl record covers.

At the end of the exhibit is a museum run gift shop that includes copies of the book “The New Black Vanguard: Photography between Art and Fashion” with notes by Antwan Sargent as well as various pieces of art influenced jewelry, books, clothing and etc. that are all on sale.

Admission to see the exhibition is: Adults $12, Seniors, Students and Children ages 6 to 17 $10, Children age 5 and under and CMA members FREE. Tickets may be purchased prior to your arrival by visiting https://www.clevelandart.org/exhibitions/new-black-vanguard-photography-between-art-and-fashion or by calling (216) 421-7350 or may be purchased on site at one of the ticket desks.

The CDC has recently updated its guidelines regarding the need to wear face coverings in public settings for protection against Covid-19. The CMA recommends wearing face masks but no longer requires visitors to wear face coverings inside the building.

The Cleveland Museum of Art is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Fridays 10 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. For more information and updates visit http://www.cma.org.