Anna Marie Tutera Director & Chief Executive Officer | The Kansas City Museum
Anna Marie Tutera Director & Chief Executive Officer | The Kansas City Museum
For over four centuries, African Americans have endured significant challenges, including enslavement, marginalization, and systemic racism. Despite these adversities, the enduring power of Black joy has persisted. "Joy Is Resistance" is an exhibition that highlights this resilience through the works of six artists from the African American Artists Collective: Stasi Bobo-Ligon, Toni Gates, Tracy Milsap, Joseph Newton, Sonié Joi Thompson-Ruffin, and Jason Wilcox.
The exhibit delves into how joy has been a revolutionary act for Black communities. It has acted as a remedy for pain and a testament to survival while providing vibrant expressions of self-affirmation. Through various artistic mediums such as bold colors, intimate portraits, abstract interpretations of Black life, and storytelling, each artist presents their unique perspective on joy.
These artists invite viewers to observe how joy has coexisted with struggle, offering a refuge for healing and transformation. Their art serves as a reminder that embracing joy amid oppression is a radical form of resistance. The exhibition will be open until February 28, 2025.
More information about the African American Artists Collective can be found at http://aaackc.org.
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