The African Diaspora Art Museum of Atlanta (ADAMA) is proud to announce Double Feature, a special art exhibition celebrating the Blaxploitation film era. On view from April 18 through June 14, 2025, and curated by Ric Ross, Double Feature showcases 30 original, framed vintage movie posters from the 1970s Blaxploitation era – including iconic titles such as Shaft, The Mack, Cleopatra Jones, and Blacula.

This vibrant exhibition explores both the artistic value of these boldly illustrated posters and the cultural impact of Blaxploitation cinema on Black identity and creative expression.

Exhibition Details:

• Title: Double Feature – Vintage Blaxploitation Poster Art

• Dates: April 18 – June 14, 2025

• Location: African Diaspora Art Museum of Atlanta (ADAMA), 352 University Ave SW, Atlanta, GA

• Curator: Ric Ross

• Featured Works: 30 original vintage film posters (circa 1970–1979) including Shaft, The Mack, Cleopatra Jones, Blacula, and more

Double Feature carries a double entendre in its name, highlighting a dual form of artistry: the visual art of the posters and the narrative art of the films themselves. In the spirit of a classic cinema “double feature,” the exhibition presents two intertwined stories – one told through striking imagery, the other through groundbreaking filmmaking. Visitors will encounter gallery walls lined with larger-than-life posters whose bold graphics, unforgettable taglines, and dynamic characters capture the essence of an era when Black heroes and heroines burst onto the big screen in unprecedented ways . Each poster is treated as a work of art in its own right, inviting viewers to appreciate the craft of illustration and design that went into marketing these films as much as the cultural narratives they represent.

At its core, Double Feature is an educational, celebratory, and inspirational journey through the history of Blaxploitation cinema and its artistic legacy. The Blaxploitation genre – roughly spanning 1970 to 1979 – provided a rare opportunity for Black men and women to be heroic, strong, cool, and victorious on screen after decades of marginalization in Hollywood . Films like Shaft and Cleopatra Jones introduced Black protagonists who defied stereotypes and claimed their place as pop culture icons. Major studios of the 1970s even relied on the success of these films and their charismatic stars to stay afloat . Double Feature illuminates this history by pairing the stunning original posters with context about the films’ storylines and impact. Through wall text and multimedia, visitors can learn how Blaxploitation movies tackled taboo subjects (from resistance to oppression to Black pride) and how they resonated with Black audiences hungry for representation. The exhibition’s educational elements shed light on the artistry of the poster designers and the ways in which these images both reflected and shaped Black identity in the 20th century .

ADAMA presents Double Feature as a bridge that expands conventional perceptions of art. By displaying vintage movie posters in a museum setting, ADAMA challenges the notion of art as abstract, inaccessible, or financially unattainable. Instead, the exhibition leverages nostalgia and cultural intimacy to help re-language the very concept of “art” for the African diaspora – celebrating creative expression in all its forms and affirming its importance in everyday life. Double Feature makes clear that art is not confined to paint on canvas or marble sculptures; it is also found in the pop culture ephemera that tell our stories. The vibrant colors and imagery of a movie poster, once seen tacked to theater lobbies or bedroom walls, are given due recognition as cultural artifacts and works of imagination.

ADAMA’s institutional voice comes through in this show’s mission: to embrace the art that lives in our communities and memories, and to elevate it to a platform where it can inspire dialogue and pride. “This exhibition is a love letter to Black creativity,” says Ric Ross, the curator of Double Feature. “From the filmmakers and artists who created these enduring images, to the fans who cherished them, we are celebrating how Black art can be both deeply personal and broadly influential. We hope visitors see that art truly belongs to them – it’s in our stories, our style, our everyday lives.

ADAMA Arts Salon is a series of conversations featuring contemporary artists, curators, scholars, and more from across the African Diaspora. Join us for ADAMA's upcoming in-person Arts Salon. In connection to ADAMA's Westlake Student exhibition, George Galbreath will moderate a conversation with former art students Tamina Green, Christian Alexander and current Westlake art students.

ADAMA Arts Salon | Ep #61

April 13, 2025

2-3 pm EST

Register to attend in person or virtually! To attend virtually please visit adamatl.org/live.

About moderator: Throughout George Galbreath's eighteen years of classroom teaching, including sixteen years with the Fulton County School District in Atlanta, Georgia, he has maintained a career as a working artist. He currently serves as Art Department Chair at Westlake High School. George is the co-founder of non-profit UAE Youth Artist Program and co-founder/co-curator of ARTiculate ATL in Atlanta, GA.

Tamina Green: As an Atlanta textile artist Tamina uses her artistry as a tool to tell stories by capturing life's uniqueness and creatively presenting it in her artwork.

Christian Alexander: A multidisciplinary polymath and an Atlanta native who is well versed in the traditional arts of drawing, painting, and sculpture; as well as poetry, mathematics, philosophy, and graphic design.

🎨 Coming Soon: Youth Artists Program Exhibit at Westlake HS

Westlake High School’s IB & AP Art students proudly present the Youth Artists Program Exhibit—a celebration of creativity, talent, and the future of art in Atlanta! 🌟

Join us on Thursday, April 11 from 6–8 PM for an incredible evening showcasing professional-level work from some of the city’s most promising young artists. From powerful visual storytelling to innovative techniques, this exhibit is a testament to the vision and excellence of Westlake’s IB & AP Art programs.

Additionally, you're invited to episode 61 of the ADAMA Arts Salon!

Join us Sunday, April 13th at 2PM at Pittsburgh Yards for a powerful intergenerational conversation on art, growth, and purpose. This session features educator and artist George Galbreath in dialogue with two of his former students, Tamina Green and Christian Alexander, as they reflect on their creative journeys and the impact of mentorship.

EP #60 | Sunday, March 23rd featuring Honey Pierre in conversation with Clarke Brown.

ADAMA Arts Salon is a series of conversations featuring contemporary artists, curators, scholars, and more from across the African Diaspora. Join us for ADAMA's upcoming in-person Arts Salon. Clarke Brown to moderate a conversation with fiber artist Honey Pierre.

ADAMA Arts Salon | Ep #60

March 23, 2025

2-3 pm EST

Register to attend in person or virtually! To attend virtually please visit adamatl.org/live.

About moderator: Clarke Brown is the Special Projects Curator at the Clark Atlanta University Art Museum, where she has recently curated two "Rediscovery", focusing on pieces from the museum's permanent collection, and a co-curated project with Jamele Wright Sr. entitled "Innervisions", a conversation between pioneering and contemporary artists of Black abstraction. Prior to this position she was the Curatorial Fellow for the Winifred and Kevin P. Reilly Initiative for underrepresented artists at the Louisiana State University Museum of Art in Baton Rouge, LA. Clarke earned an MA in Museum Studies from New York University and a BA in History from Spelman College.

Honey Pierre: Cassandra Hickey, known as Honey Pierre, is an Atlanta-based fiber artist with three years of experience in this medium and a total of six years of experience in painting. She hails from Cleveland, Ohio, and made the transition to Atlanta, Georgia, in 2018. Her journey there has been marked by mentorship, mastery, and significant growth as a fiber artist. Cassandra has an impressive exhibition record, having participated in 30 group exhibits, held two successful solo exhibitions, and contributed installations to offices and public spaces.

EP #59 | Sunday, March 2nd featuring Curtis Patterson and Hasani Sahlehe in conversation with Fahamu Pecou.

ADAMA Arts Salon is a series of conversations featuring contemporary artists, curators, scholars, and more from across the African Diaspora.

Join us for ADAMA's upcoming in-person Arts Salon. Fahamu Pecou to moderate a conversation with Flowers & Seeds recipients Curtis Patterson and Hasani Sahlehe. The Flowers & Seeds gala celebrates an under-recognized established visual artist and plants a seed for an emerging visual artist, both based in Georgia by presenting the Nellie Mae Rowe Award, generously made possible by The Judith Alexander Foundation.

ADAMA Arts Salon | Ep #59

March 2, 2025

2-3 pm EST

Register to attend in person or virtually! To attend virtually please visit adamatl.org/live.

About moderator: Dr. Fahamu Pecou is an interdisciplinary artist and scholar whose works combine observations on hip-hop, fine art, and popular culture to address concerns around contemporary representations of Black men. Through paintings, performance art, and academic work, Dr. Pecou confronts the performance of Black masculinity and Black identity, challenging and expanding the reading, performance, and expressions of Blackness.

Curtis Patterson: Over the last four and a half decades, Atlanta based artist, Curtis Patterson, has been developing and producing thought-provoking art on a variety of scales. Many of Patterson’s captivating works have been exhibited at sites both nationally and internationally, which include shows in the United States, France, Nigeria, Sweden and Italy. His intrigue with the manipulation of three-dimensional space and objects is clearly evident in his sculptures, which by virtue of their distinctive design, stimulate investigation and promote curiosity.

Hasani Sahlehe: Sahlehe makes tactile and brightly-hued abstract paintings that foreground the physicality of the painted surface in order to explore the phenomenological impact of color and shape and the nuances of human perception. His large-scale canvases are immersive, not unlike the ineffable sensation of listening to music – a major conceptual touchstone for his practice as well as a key component of his production process. In the studio, Sahlehe channels the emotive quality of music, synesthetically constructing a painted space from the experience of sound. He also pursues the enigmatic work of giving form to memories and feelings – exploring a composition’s potential for communicating otherwise formless ideas and sensations.

Join us for an unforgettable evening with artist Demond “Big Chief” Melancon as he presents his latest body of work, As Any Means Are Necessary. This exhibition, on view from January 10 through February 15, explores the rich heritage of the Black Masking Culture of New Orleans through 22 stunning works, including framed portraits, African masks, and the debut of Melancon’s Spirit Suit. In this exclusive Artist Talk on February 13 at 6:30 PM, Demond will share the stories and inspirations behind his work, offering insights into how these cultural traditions inform his practice as a contemporary artist. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage directly with the artist and learn more about his journey to bring this vital culture into the art world.

Date: February 13, 2025

Time: 7 PM

Location: 352 University Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30310

EP #58 | Sunday, February 2nd

ADAMA Arts Salon is a series of conversations featuring contemporary artists, curators, scholars, and more from across the African Diaspora.

Join us for ADAMA's special edition Arts Salon episode in partnership with True Colors. ADAMA Arts Salon and True Colors True Talks are very happy to present "My Hair, My Crown: Black Salon Culture." Inspired by True Colors' upcoming production of "Jaja's African Hair Braiding," Aba Arthur in conversation with Dr. Leyte Winfield, Yakini Horn, and Linda Pearl Fils-Aime will discuss many facets of Black salon culture, such as perceptions of beauty, African influences, and the camaraderie that these spaces inspire among Black women. This event will also include a first look at a scene by True Colors' stellar cast of "Jaja's," as well as original works inspired by the play.

To see bio listings of each program participant please refer to True Colors webpage HERE

ADAMA Arts Salon | Ep #58

February 2, 2025

2-3:30 pm EST

Register to attend in person or virtually! The live stream link will be sent to all RSVPs via email.

Jaja’s African Hair Braiding: This play invites you to step into a vibrant hair salon in Harlem, where a lively community of West African immigrant hair braiders weaves together humor and heart in a celebration of artistry and resilience. Amidst the laughter and playful shop talk, a diverse group of women share dreams, love stories, and hidden secrets, all while creating stunning braided masterpieces. On a sweltering summer day, the lighthearted banter reveals deeper reflections on the challenges of feeling like outsiders in their own neighborhood, sparking a powerful exploration of identity and belonging. Join us for this dazzling regional premiere that masterfully balances comedy with poignant themes, highlighting the magic of Black salon culture and the connections that unite us all.

🎉✨ Join Us for ADAMA’s First Exhibit of 2024! ✨🎉

On January 10 at 7 PM, we’re thrilled to kick off the year with the opening reception of As Any Means Are Necessary by the extraordinary artist Demond “Big Chief” Melancon. This powerful exhibit bridges the iconic Black Masking Culture of New Orleans with breathtaking fine art, featuring 22 works, including framed portraits, African masks, and the debut of Melancon’s incredible Spirit Suit.

This exhibition reflects ADAMA’s mission of celebrating African diasporic art, culture, and storytelling, connecting the rich heritage of the African Diaspora with contemporary artistic expression.

🖼️ Don’t miss this moment to immerse yourself in Black art and culture as we continue to elevate voices, inspire creativity, and affirm Black humanity.

📅 Save the Date: January 10 at 7 PM
📍 ADAMA | 352 University Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30310
✨ Free & open to the public

#BlackArt #AfricanDiasporaArt #DemondMelancon #ADAMA #ArtExhibition #BlackMaskingCulture #AtlantaEvents #BeltLineArt

Join us at ADAMA for a joyous Kwanzaa Celebration and the Closing Reception of the Pieces of Us exhibit on Saturday, December 28th, from 1–4 PM. This special family-friendly event marks the conclusion of this powerful exhibition, honoring the cultural significance of Black Southern artistry and celebrating the principles of Kwanzaa.

Event Highlights:

• Kinara Lighting Ceremony: Gather with us as we light the kinara and reflect on Kwanzaa's seven guiding principles—Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith).

• Meet & Greet with Featured Artists: Connect with the artists behind the stunning works featured in Pieces of Us, and hear their stories in an informal and welcoming setting.

• Family-Friendly Scavenger Hunt: Kids (and kids at heart!) can engage with the exhibit in a fun and interactive scavenger hunt designed to celebrate the themes of art, heritage, and storytelling.

This celebration is a perfect way to honor community, family, and creativity while closing out Pieces of Us, a collection that highlights Black Southern artistry and the importance of cultural caretaking.

Admission: This event is free and open to the public, but registration is encouraged to secure your spot.

We look forward to celebrating with you and your loved ones as we close this exhibit with joy, reflection, and connection.

EP #57 | Sunday, November 24th featuring Dameon & Kimberly Fisher in conversation with Faron Manuel.  

ADAMA Arts Salon is a series of conversations featuring contemporary artists, curators, scholars, and more from across the African Diaspora.

Join us for ADAMA's upcoming in-person Arts Salon. Faron Manuel to moderate a conversation with artist Dameon & Kimberly Fisher. The conversation will center around the Fisher's commitment of taking on the role of cultural caretakers and representing Black southern artworks.     

ADAMA Arts Salon | Ep #57

November 24, 2023

2-3 pm EST

Register to attend in person or virtually! The live stream link will be sent to all RSVPs via email.  

 “PIECES OF US” featuring Selections from Dameon & Kim Fisher
This exhibit showcases the heartfelt dedication of Dameon and Kimberly Fisher as they pour themselves into their roles as ‘cultural caretakers’ for the work of Southern Black artists. This powerful exhibit invites you to explore artworks from their collection, emphasizing the importance of preserving and uplifting Black heritage, especially within Atlanta's vibrant cultural landscape. 

Join us for the opening reception to honor this inspiring collection and the stories it holds—register now to be part of this special celebration!

Atlanta, Georgia

November 13, 2024 | 6pm-8pm | ADAMA, 352 University Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30310

In Atlanta, Alicia Knock will be in conversation at ADAMA (African Diaspora Art Museum of Atlanta) alongside Cheryl Finley, Art Historian with Spelman College & Director of the Atlanta University Center Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective, and Fahamu Pecou, Founding Director of ADAMA.

In addition, Alicia Knock will meet with important actors working to promote and archive Black and African American art, including Melissa Messina of the Mildred Thompson Estate and the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives & Rare Book Library at Emory University.

EP #56 | Sunday, November 10th featuring Jon Goode in conversation with Lia Bascomb.  

ADAMA Arts Salon is a series of conversations featuring contemporary artists, curators, scholars, and more from across the African Diaspora.

Join us for ADAMA's upcoming in-person Arts Salon. Lia Bascomb to moderate a conversation with artist Jon Goode. The conversation will dive into Jon's new book Black Curio. Black Curio is a collection of short stories that live in the now, the not-so-distant past, and the far-flung future of the Black experience. It's filled with true stories from private spaces and public transit, almost true stories from office buildings and chess parks, and imagined realities from worlds not yet born. There will be moments that will make you smile, make you laugh, make you cry, and hopefully make you sit, examine, and reflect.

Feel free to read Black Curio prior to the Salon date! To purchase the paperback search Black Curio Jon Goode on Amazon or purchase the PDF version on Jon Goode's website. 

ADAMA Arts Salon | Ep #56

November 10, 2023

2-3 pm EST

Register to attend in person or virtually! The live stream link will be sent to all RSVPs via email.  

EP #55 | Sunday, October 20th featuring Shanequa Gay in conversation with Jasmine Wilson.  

ADAMA Arts Salon is a series of conversations featuring contemporary artists, curators, scholars, and more from across the African Diaspora.

Join us for ADAMA's upcoming in-person Arts Salon. Jasmine Wilson to moderate a conversation with artist Shanequa Gay. The conversation will dive into Shenqua's artistic practice, and explore the themes of artistic expression, centering Blackness, postcolonialism, and healing in relation to the American South and African communities.    

About Moderator: Jasmine Wilson is a sound healer, curator, and writer from Atlanta, GA. Using African aesthetics as her primary framework, Jasmine’s practice explores the relationship between visual art and healing. Her interests include highlighting the physical and metaphysical significance of artwork within her writing and curatorial projects, while revealing the ways that art can influence our consciousness. With over six years of experience working in the art and cultural sector, Jasmine has held art administration and curatorial positions at the High Museum of Art, Studio Museum in Harlem, AUC Art History & Curatorial Studies Collective at Spelman College, and the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art. Her writings have appeared in Sugarcane Magazine, Contemporary And, and Burnaway, among others. Jasmine has mentored emerging writers as a workshop leader and tutor for the global art magazine, Contemporary And. In 2022, Jasmine earned her MA in African American Studies from Clark Atlanta University, where she completed her thesis, “The African Symbolism of Simone Leigh’s Brick House Sculpture.” Jasmine holds a BA in English with Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude honors from Howard University.

Shanequa Gay:  Gay exhibits her works and procures residencies within the United States, Europe, Japan, and South Africa. She is a Do-Good Fellow recipient, an Emory University Arts and Social Justice Fellow, (2020) a Hudgens Prize Finalist (2022), the first Inaugural Visual Artist-in-Residence at Oglethorpe University, 2022-23 and is one of five Georgia Women to Watch selected by the Georgia Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts (2023). Gay’s exhibitions include four womxn, Museum of Fine Arts Boston (2024); New Worlds: Georgia Women to Watch, Atlanta Contemporary (2023), the European Cultural Centre Personal Structures-REFLECTION, 59th Venice Biennale (2022); Atlanta Biennial, Atlanta Contemporary (2021); Le Monde Bossale: Af-Flux – Transnational Black Biennial, Art Mûr Galerie (2021); and Holding Space for Nobility: A Memorial for Breonna Taylor, Ackland Museum, Chapel Hill North Carolina (2020).

EP #54 | Sunday, October 6th featuring Errin Haines in conversation with Nandos Art Collection Artists.  

ADAMA Arts Salon is a series of conversations featuring contemporary artists, curators, scholars, and more from across the African Diaspora.

Join us for ADAMA's upcoming in-person Arts Salon. Errin Haines to moderate a conversation with artist Sam Nhlengethwa, Diane Victor and Mbongeni Buthelezi. Each panelist is a visiting artist from South Africa whose artworks are included in ADAMA's exhibition, If You Look Hard Enough, You Can See Our Future.

In addition to the Arts Salon episode you will also be able to enjoy South African music, brunch catered by Nandos and a curator led tour.    

About Moderator: Errin Haines is editor at large and a founding mother of The 19th, a nonprofit, independent newsroom focused on the intersection of gender, politics and policy. She is also host of The 19th’s weekly politics podcast, The Amendment, and an MSNBC Contributor. Errin was previously national writer on race and ethnicity for The Associated Press. She has also worked at The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and Orlando Sentinel. Errin’s expertise on issues of race, gender and politics make her a thought leader in her industry. She has also taught at the Georgetown University Institute of Politics and Princeton University. She is based in Atlanta.

Sam Nhlengethwa: Sam's work is largely figurative and explores themes close to his heart like jazz, human interactions, and contemporary Africa. His fine sense of colour and form lend an abstract quality to his work, which has been included in many contemporary South African art publications and can be found in leading South African and International collections. He is one of South Africa’s foremost artists and was awarded the Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year in 1994 – the year South Africa held its first democratic elections. He has exhibited all over the world – from South Africa to Senegal, New York to Cologne. Despite Sam’s pioneering role in South African art, his work has received rare visibility in Europe. A major survey exhibition, titled Life, Jazz and Lots of Other Things, was hosted by SCAD Museum of Art in Savannah, Georgia in 2014, which was then co-hosted in Atlanta by SCAD and the Carter Center. His work has also featured on a number of international biennales. 

Diane Victor: Is renowned for her expert printmaking and draughtsmanship. Victor positions herself within the South African context through bold confrontations with difficult and, at times, taboo subject matter. Her large scale drawings and etchings demonstrate a command of mark-making, which she uses to render her subjects in affecting detail. Her work poses challenges to social and political life in contemporary South Africa, considering issues of corruption, violence and an unequal power distribution. She has gone on to win various prestigious awards including the Sasol New Signatures Award in 1987. In 1988, Victor became the youngest recipient of the Volkskas Atelier Award. Victor has exhibited at numerous venues around South Africa and internationally and her work is part of a number of important collections.

Mbongeni Buthelezi: Known for his plastic painting and environmental themes, Mbongeni repurposes plastic for use in his artwork in an effort to minimise pollution, and to raise awareness of the dangers of single use plastic that ends up in oceans and landfills. He uses different techniques to melt the plastic and then applies it to a recycled canvas to create vivid, striking abstract artworks or depictions of animals. The use of these materials shows Buthelezi's awareness of environmental problems and the physical decay of the townships as well as the references to general social and political impoverishment and flaw of opportunities and alternatives that he observes in South Africa. His works have been exhibited internationally at solo and group exhibitions, including the Museum of African Art in New York, the Goch Museum in Germany as well as the Prague Biennale. He was also an artist in residence in Germany, South Africa and New York.

We are excited to celebrate the closing of Atlanta Art Week and the Atlanta Art Fair with “A Day at ADAMA” giving the public and patrons an exciting opportunity to explore the exhibition “If You Look Hard Enough, You Can See Our Future” with works of Nando’s Art Collection. This day will start with a celebratory brunch catered by Nando’s, where guests will also be able to enjoy chicken and waffles, mimosas, and South African music from 11 - 1 p.m. Then guests will be invited to tour the exhibition with the curator Laurie Ann Farrell available to answer any questions they may have from 1 - 2 p.m. Finally, the day will conclude with a thrilling panel discussion with three visiting South African artists whose work is in the exhibition, Sam Nhlengethwa, Diane Victor, and Mbongeni Buthelizi moderated by 19th News Editor-at-Large and MSNBC Contributor, Errin Haines. 

Time: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Place: African Diaspora Art Museum, Atlanta at Pittsburgh Yards

352 University Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30310

Schedule

Brunch 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Arts Salon 2 p.m. -3 p.m.

EP #53 | Sunday, September 29th featuring Jamele Wright Sr. in conversation with Halima Taha.  

ADAMA Arts Salon is a series of conversations featuring contemporary artists, curators, scholars, and more from across the African Diaspora.

Join us for ADAMA's upcoming in-person Arts Salon. Halima Taha to moderate a conversation with artist Jamele Wright Sr. The conversation will dive into Jamele's artisitc practice and center the American South and African artistic relations.    

 About Moderator: Halima Taha is best known for her groundbreaking bestseller, Collecting African American Art: Works on Paper and Canvas, the first book to validate the collection of fine art, printmaking, and photography by Americans of African descent as viable assets and commodities within the art market. In addition, her extensive expertise laid the groundwork for building and educating worldwide markets in conjunction with the historic National Black Fine Art Show (1997-2009). Her work catalyzed prominent museums to pursue African-American art collections for exhibition and acquisition within the first two decades of this century. Taha is an art professional and tireless advocate for artists and Black visual culture; her curatorial, art advisory, and strategic planning develop corporate and not-for-profit programs and audiences. Halima is committed to nurturing the development, documentation, and acquisition of contemporary visual culture as a professional speaker, curator, and arts writer. Currently she is the artistic chair of the Hammonds House Museum and a content specialist for the Getty Research Institute's Oral History Project in conjunction with UC Berkeley. Halima currently serves on the boards of the Brandywine Workshop & Archive and the Clara Elizabeth Jackson Carter Foundation. She is an Advisor for the Calabar Artist Residences at Colab Arts, the Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts (EFA Studios), and the Ntozake Shange Trust.

Jamele Wright Sr: Born and raised in Ohio, at the age of 22 Jamele Wright, Sr. moved with his family to Atlanta, Georgia. While raising a family Jamele produced art, jazz, and poetry events throughout Atlanta. Realizing that there were many young artists not being represented he started a gallery called Neo Renaissance Art House. After curating the gallery for over a year Jamele was inspired to pursue his own artistic career. After a few solo and group exhibitions Mr. Wright graduated from Georgia State University with a B.A. in Art History. He concentrated on African and African American Contemporary Art. Jamele graduated with Master of Fine Art from School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, New York. He completed a residency at MASS MoCA, Golden Foundation, and Vermont Studio Center as well as artist in resident at Gibbes Museum, Charleston, SC. He currently maintains his practice in Atlanta, Georgia.  

Experience the incredible exhibition "If You Can Look Hard Enough, You Can See Our Future" at the African Diaspora Art Museum of Atlanta (ADAMA), featuring masterworks from Southern Africa curated from Nando’s world-renowned art collection. Open to the public from September 20 through November 2, this exhibition showcases renowned artists like Zanele Muholi and William Kentridge. Don't miss this unique opportunity to explore the rich cultural expressions of the African diaspora right here in Atlanta. Visit us Thursday through Saturday from Noon to 5 p.m. for an inspiring experience.

Join us for the opening reception of the highly anticipated exhibition "If You Can Look Hard Enough, You Can See Our Future" at the African Diaspora Art Museum of Atlanta (ADAMA) on Friday, September 20th at 7:00 p.m. Be among the first to experience extraordinary contemporary art from Southern Africa, curated from Nando’s renowned collection. This exclusive event offers a chance to engage with featured artists and celebrate the power of art within the African diaspora. Don’t miss out on this inspiring evening—RSVP now!

EP #52 | Sunday, September 15th featuring Selorm Attikpo (SelormJay) in conversation with Joycelyn Wilson.  

ADAMA Arts Salon is a series of conversations featuring contemporary artists, curators, scholars, and more from across the African Diaspora.

Join us for ADAMA's upcoming in-person Arts Salon. Joycelyn Wilson to moderate a conversation with artist and hip hop archivist Selorm Attikpo (SelormJay). The conversation will center around the African and diasporic hip hop scene with a special focus on the American South and Ghana.                                                                                       

About Moderator: Joycelyn Wilson is an integrative curriculum designer, cultural studies educator, and faculty of Hip Hop Studies and Digital Media at Georgia Tech. She is the founder of the HipHop2020 Innovation Archive, an ed-tech start-up inspired by hip hop culture's intersections with the art of teaching and learning. Wilson has contributed commentary to MSBNC, Netflix's Hip Hop Evolution, VH1's ATL Rise, and TV-One's UnSung. Her work, currently, sits at the intersection of education and cultural politics, with an emphasis on the critical design natures of Black music, performance, and maker culture - as impacted by hip hop in the American South. 

Selorm Attikpo (SelormJay): As a freelance, self-taught photographer, filmmaker, Archivist and producer based in Ghana and France, Selorm documented the hip hop scene in Accra and internationally for over a decade. Selorm is the Founder and Creatove Director of yoyo tinz, an organization that promotes, archives and develops hip hop culture in Africa and organized Ghana’s first hip hop festival in 2018. He continues to build strong relationships with recording artists and provides consitent advising services. 

Join Ain Heath Drew for an early-access launch party for AYO’S ADVENTURE: ACROSS THE AFRICAN DIASPORA FROM AFRO TO ZULU.

About the Book: Ayo takes an imaginative journey around the globe to discover the beauty and resilience of the African diaspora.

Children and their grownups are invited to view beautiful artwork from the book, enjoy sweet treats, create a craft with Xploration Theatre (HOME | Xploration Theatre), mingle with other readers, and purchase a copy of AYO’S ADVENTURE before its official launch date!

More Information: Ayo's Adventure | Ages 5-10 years | Barefoot Books

Join us on Friday, August 30, at 7pm for a performance art by Masela Nkolo featuring Okori Johnson in the ADAMA Gallery at Pittsburgh Yards.  ⁠

The “Ubuntu, Ki Zoba Zoba project” is a celebration that transcends art. It’s an acknowledgement of humanity and a testament to the transformative power of creativity. Together, let's honor our shared humanity and inspire positive change.