CELEBRATING BLACK GALLERIES — PIGMENT INTERNATIONAL TO WELCOME COUNTRY’S FINEST IN OCTOBER
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Black galleries are the beating heart of our communities. Whether in a converted home, a storefront, a strip mall, downtown, across the tracks, inside a specially built “cathedral to art,” or virtual, Black galleries provide us spaces to purchase art certainly — but also to gather, learn, and experience Black history in real time.
Just this past week, Chicago honored that legacy with two milestone celebrations. On the South Side, a street naming at 75th and Martin Luther King Drive recognized Lawrence Calvin D’Antignac, founder of The Woodshop, a 51-year-old gallery that began humbly as a frame shop and grew into an anchor for Black creativity and dialogue. At the same time, Gallery Guichard marked its 20th Anniversary, celebrating two decades of presenting global Black art and anchoring Bronzeville as a destination for collectors and cultural tourism.
Each exhibition and commemoration not only uplifted artists but also affirmed the cultural sovereignty Black galleries have long safeguarded. They remind us that Black art is not simply about representation — it is about defining, recording, and expanding our narratives on our own terms.
That ethos is at the core of Pigmented: Black Fine Art Faire, set for October 30 — November 2, 2025, at the Zhou B Art Center in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood. Organized by Pigment International, the Faire will be the city’s first Black-run fine art fair in more than 30 years.
The lineup of participating galleries reflects both the geographic breadth and creative depth of Black art today. Confirmed exhibitors include:
- September Gray Fine Art (Atlanta)
- Daniel Texidor Parker Gallery (Chicago)
- Faié Afrikan Art in Bronzeville (Chicago)
- Color Me Africa Fine Art (Chicago)
- Connect Gallery (Chicago)
- Dozie Arts Contemporary African Art (NYC |NJ)
- Waterkolours Fine Art (Memphis)
- Creative Artist Associates, Inc. (Chicago)
- Mahogany Gallery (Racine, WI)
- Blackbird Gallery (Detroit)
- Dorian Sylvain Studios (Chicago)
- Zucot Gallery (Atlanta)
Together, these galleries embody the spirit of innovation, entrepreneurship, and cultural stewardship that defines the Black art ecosystem. Their presence at Pigmented will turn the Zhou B Art Center into a living archive of Black excellence, linking the city’s deep history with the global diaspora.
As we reflect on these recent gallery celebrations, we are also glimpsing a prelude. These events are not isolated — they are threads in the larger tapestry of Black artistry that will come together this fall at Pigmented. The Faire promises to be a cultural hallmark, offering collectors, artists, and the public an unforgettable opportunity to witness the power of Black galleries, united.
Pigment’s multimedia platform is about elevating Black art through storytelling and Black gallerist have stories to tell. Come meet some of the country’s best.
Tickets are available now on Eventbrite. Purchase today and receive a complimentary copy of the award-winning Pigment Magazine with your ticket — an exclusive opportunity to own a piece of the story we’re building together.
RUSSELL GOINGS, A COLLECTOR AMONG COLLECTORS, PASSES AWAY
“For those who are monied, you cannot tell me you have a collection that means something, and it does not include African American art,” said athlete, business trailblazer, entrepreneur, author, art historian, dealer and collector Russell L. Goings, Jr. “Further, you can’t be a major institution and say you are exclusive.”
Goings (92), who passed away this past week, leaves behind a legacy as one of the most important private collectors of Black art. He is recognized as one of the largest private holders of Romare Bearden’s work, closely followed by his collection of Charles White. Bearden became a lifelong friend and mentor, and for 12 years the two men spent nearly every day together roaming bookstores, museums, and discussing art and literature until Bearden’s passing in 1988. Goings preserved their time together through notebooks and hours of audio recordings, and his collection spans Bearden’s earliest collages to his final works, including rarely seen drawings and sketches.
Reflecting on collecting, Goings often explained, “Being a collector is constantly being defined and redefined. Some people are accumulators, some are passive, but true collectors create a body of work that generates interest and adds value. One of the paths to creating wealth is to collect art, but you must understand what goes into being a collector.” He frequently spoke about “moving the decimal point to the right,” his metaphor for growing value by working with gallerists, dealers, and institutions.
His early leadership at the Studio Museum in Harlem, where he served as one of its first chairmen, connected him with artists such as Elizabeth Catlett, Jacob Lawrence, White, and of course, Bearden. Goings was featured in the inaugural edition of Pigment Magazine and attended Pigment’s very first show in Miami, signaling his unwavering support for the next generation of Black art institutions. His vision and commitment helped shape the broader recognition of Black art as central to America’s cultural legacy.
Get Pigment Magazine Issue 1 to read Goings story.
