NBC JOINS AS MEDIA PARTNER FOR THE PIGMENTED BLACK FINE ART FAIR
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Pigment International is proud to announce that NBC 5 Chicago has signed on as the official media partner for the 2025 Pigmented Black Fine Art Fair, bringing expanded visibility to the celebration of Black fine art and culture.
Through this partnership, NBC 5 Chicago will deliver a robust slate of coverage designed to spotlight the artists, collectors, and cultural leaders shaping today’s art landscape. As part of the partnership NBC 5 reporter LeeAnn Trotter, a champion of Chicago’s arts and culture scene, will host the opening night reception on Thursday, October 30th.
We’re thrilled to partner with NBC Chicago,” said Patricia Andrews-Keenan, founder and CEO of Pigment International. “Their support helps us elevate the voices of Black artists and bring their work to audiences who may be discovering the Fair for the first time. This collaboration underscores the power of the media to celebrate creativity and community.”
The Pigmented Black Fine Art Fair will take place October 30 — November 2 at the Zhou B Art Center. This year’s Fair will spotlight two pivotal moments in Chicago’s history: the 80th Anniversary of the American Negro Exposition (1940) and the 85th Anniversary of the South Side Community Art Center, which continues to be a vital hub of Black artistic expression.
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SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM HOSTS SECOND H-DAP CONVENING
In June, the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) hosted the second convening of the HBCU Digital Art Project (H-DAP) in Washington, DC, ahead of Juneteenth celebrations. This gathering brought together representatives from eight HBCUs, SAAM staff, the Picture That consultant team, and H-DAP interns to reflect on the project’s purpose, envision future goals, and strengthen connections between HBCUs and SAAM.
Presentations by Spelman College, Howard University, Grambling State University, Coppin State University, Clark Atlanta University, Tuskegee University, and Benedict College highlighted each institution’s mission, art collections, and perspectives on preservation and risk management. Each school’s presentation followed a 20-question survey, offering insight into the diversity of approaches to stewarding and interpreting their collections.
The convening also featured guest speakers, including Robin Veder, Executive Editor of the American Art Journal; Jenni Lee, head registrar; Jenifer Schneider, assistant registrar; and Morgan Archer, museum specialist at SAAM. Livingstone College contributed an engaging Art Collection Management Case Study titled “What Does Sculptor Meta Warrick Fuller and the AME Zion Church Have in Common?”
Participants explored several exhibitions through guided and self-guided tours, including Elizabeth Catlett: A Black Revolutionary Artist at the National Gallery of Art, led by Dalila Scruggs; The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture at SAAM, led by Tobias Wofford; and We Gather at the Edge: Contemporary Quilts by Black Women Artists at the Renwick Gallery, curated by Aleia Brown.
This successful convening built on the momentum of the inaugural meeting in 2024 and set the stage for future collaborations. The next convening is set for September, with the goal of engaging all 107 HBCUs nationwide.
CHICAGO VOYAGERS AND HIGHDIVE PRESENT “THE FUTURE VOYAGERS” ART EXHIBIT
Chicago Voyagers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering underrepresented youth through outdoor adventure therapy, has partnered with award-winning creative agency Highdive and multi-disciplinary artist Dwight White II to present The Future Voyagers — a groundbreaking art exhibition that redefines the narrative of American exploration through the eyes of today’s youth.
The exhibit launches Friday, August 8 with a ticketed gala at the Epiphany Center for the Arts in West Town, with public programming running through September 6th. At the heart of the show are powerful portraits of youth of color — current Chicago Voyagers participants — portrayed as bold, modern-day explorers in the great outdoors.
The exhibition riffs off the traditional American exploration portraits found in museums & history books, which all show the same depiction of explorers. The artwork visualizes the future of outdoor exploration to be one that is inclusive & modern.
LADIPO FAMODU AT IMPRESSIONS — WORKS FROM CHICAGO SCULPTURE INTERNATIONAL
Ladipo Famodu’s work commands attention in this year’s Impressions exhibition, bringing sculptural forms that merge personal narrative with cultural resonance. Famodu’s approach transforms familiar elements into sculptural dialogues. The works are tactile yet conceptual, grounded yet expansive, embodying a rhythm that reflects Chicago’s own complex story. Each sculpture feels like a conversation — between histories, between science, and between the artist and the viewer.
Exhibition Dates: July 11 — August 25, 2025
2nd Friday Reception: Friday, August 8, 2025, 5–9 pm
Location: Fine Arts Building Gallery and Courtyard, 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois
AAAM HOSTS ANNUAL MEETING
Last week, the Association of African American Museums (AAAM) convened its 47th Annual Conference in Charleston, South Carolina — a gathering that reaffirmed the organization’s mission to preserve, interpret, and advance African American history and culture. This year’s theme focused on reigniting the collective energy of museum professionals, artists, and cultural workers to “fight the good fight” for another 365 days and beyond.
Against a backdrop of mounting challenges in the cultural sector, AAAM members demonstrated resilience and determination, continuing to show up and stand strong in the face of adversity. The conference emphasized that as the nation approaches 250 years of American history, it is critical to center the narratives of those whose stories have long been slighted. Black history, the gathering affirmed, is not separate from American history — it is American history.
Sessions, panels, and community engagements over the week provided space for both reflection and action, with a shared commitment to ensuring that African American museums remain vital forces for education, advocacy, and remembrance. The call to sustain this work resounded throughout the conference: AAAM must remain equipped and supported to lead this effort for decades to come.
To learn more about AAAM’s mission, visit www.BlackMuseums.org. To help ensure the organization’s future and ongoing advocacy, consider making a donation here.
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