This Week: Savannah Wood + Teri Henderson in conversation with Siân Evans at Peabody Library, MICA’s Bicentenial Opening Celebration, closing event for A Lake in a Desert at MICA Brown Center, ARTificial opening reception at MAP, abdu mongo ali performance at the BMA, Jennifer Blades + Diane Kinsley “In the Stacks” at Peabody Library, Vibes in Mt. Vernon at Center Stage, Pangelica’s album release at Ottobar, NMWA Art Chat for Tawny Chatmon, Rich in What They Can’t Measure opening reception at Gormley Gallery, and an artist talk with Nate GSki at Quid Nunc Gallery — PLUS call for performers for Asia North 2026 and more featured opportunities!
BmoreArt’s Picks presents the best weekly art openings, events, and performances happening in Baltimore and surrounding areas. For a more comprehensive perspective, check the BmoreArt Calendar page, which includes ongoing exhibits and performances, and is updated on a daily basis.
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Archives, Memory, and the Power of Data with Savannah Wood and Teri Henderson
Tuesday, January 20 :: 6pm
@ George Peabody Library
What Stories Do Archives Hold and Which Ones Are Missing?
Join Savannah Wood, Executive Director of Afro Charities, and Teri Henderson, curator, writer, and Art+Feminism Board member, for a hybrid conversation exploring the role of archives in shaping community history and digital storytelling.
This program will examine how overlooked or misrepresented histories influence the digital systems that document our world and how intentional, feminist approaches to documentation can help create more accurate and inclusive narratives. Drawing from their work in preservation, interpretation, and cultural memory, the speakers will discuss how community archives deepen our understanding of the past and inform the stories that guide our future.
The conversation will be facilitated by Siân Evans, Librarian for History and Area Studies at Johns Hopkins University and Art+Feminism co-founder, and co-hosted by Sheridan Libraries and Museums at Johns Hopkins University.
This event connects to Art+Feminism’s campaign centering Wikidata and highlights how open, structured data can support more inclusive storytelling practices.
MICA’s Bicentennial Opening Celebration
Wednesday, January 21 :: 2-3:30pm
@ MICA Brown Center
President Cecilia M. McCormick, J.D., and the Board of Trustees cordially invite you to kick off MICA’s Bicentennial celebration.
Since 1826, the Maryland Institute College of Art has been the epicenter of art and design education in Baltimore. Please join us at the public launch day for our bicentennial. This special event will recognize our past, celebrate how we have changed in 200 years, and offer a glimpse into exciting future initiatives.
A Lake in A Desert | Closing Event and Reception
Thursday, January 22 :: 1-6:45pm
@ MICA Brown Center
A Lake in A Desert exhibition and closing event are grounded in a shared objective: to foster collaborations between scientists, artists, and designers, that elevate research, reimagine genuine and responsible community engagement, and expand the ways knowledge is synthesized and communicated. Because of this, the exhibition is focused on process. Rather than presenting finished products alone, it shows how maps are made, how paleo-reconstructions are built, and how scientific ideas are translated into compelling visual narratives such as children’s books. This emphasis on making and translation is key to demonstrating what becomes possible when creative and scientific disciplines work together.
The exhibition body of work spans all four floors of the Brown Center and brings together hand drawings by Kenyan high school students, decades of field maps by Robert Raynolds that illustrate the evolution of map making, paleo-reconstructions of extinct species by Spanish artist Mauricio Antón, children’s book illustrations by Dino Martins, analytical cartography of extractive mining by Cave Bureau (formerly on display at the British Pavilion at the 2025 Venice Biennale), research from an upcoming publication on the Arabian Peninsula by architecture and planning firm Civil Architecture, as well as films, sculpture, paintings, photographs, and collaborative works developed by MICA students, faculty, and researchers working in the Turkana Basin.
The closing event agenda will begin with a private (and free) screening of NAWI: Dear Future Me, Kenya’s 2025 submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature. The movie tells the true story of a 13-year-old girl from Turkana who is forced into child marriage and escapes to pursue her education in Nairobi. The film explores themes of tradition and resilience, courage and empowerment. We are especially excited to be able to share this film with you, as this screening offers an exclusive opportunity to see it ahead of its theatrical release! While the film is not the subject of the exhibition itself, it provides important cultural and environmental grounding for the audience ahead of the discussions to follow.
ARTificial | Opening Reception
Thursday, January 22 :: 6-9pm
@ Maryland Art Place
On View:
January 22 – March 14
Opening Reception:
Thursday, January 22 | 6 PM to 9 PM
Artist Panel + Screening:
Thursday, February 26 | 6 PM to 8 PM
Closing Reception + Screening:
Thursday, March 12 | 6 PM to 8 PM
Maryland Art Place (MAP) is excited to announce ARTificial, an exhibition in critical discourse with the utilization, implementation and innovation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in art making. ARTificial aims to explore the varied ways in which artists engage with AI and how it has shaped the arts since its inception. As access to AI tools increase – our engagement with AI informs how we interface with the environment, our communities, and our work.All artworks exhibited do not necessarily utilize AI – but challenge our perception of media, technology and digitization. Exhibiting artists critique, engage, reimagine and challenge AI as [simultaneously] a tool and collaborator – AI is a system shaped by human decisions, datasets and cultural assumptions – artists in dialogue with AI are unavoidably considering concepts surrounding ethics, authorship, bias and posthumanist sentiments. Collectively, the exhibition invites sustained reflection on how algorithmic technologies reshape aesthetic production and cultural meaning.
ARTificial is on view Thursday, January 22 – Mar 14, 2026. Please join us for the opening reception on Thursday, January 22 from 6 PM to 9 PM. Additional programming will be announced.
abdu mongo ali presents: between every breath, there is atmosphere
Thursday, January 22 :: 6:30-8pm
@ Baltimore Museum of Art
Join us in the Meyerhoff Auditorium for a special BMA Violet Hour presentation by abdu mongo ali, the BMA’s inaugural Alice and Franklin Cooley Composer in Residence.
Experience a sonic and visual performance that considers how the atmospheric and ecological conditions of the Southern Atlantic state of Maryland affect contemporary Black Baltimoreans. The phrase between every breath, there is atmosphere is derived from a collection of ali’s poems that speaks to the interconnectedness of Blackness, gay life, and the afterlives of slavery.
Ali’s performance is a response to a creative prompt using the Museum’s collection and exhibitions as a site of exploration and inspiration.
In the Stacks: Jennifer Blades
Thursday, January 22 :: 6:30-7:30pm
@ George Peabody Library
Oysters! Cakes! Bread and Gravy! This delectable program featuring mezzo-soprano Jennifer Blades and pianist Diane Kinsley will whisk you away with music inspired by the art of fine dining, feasting, and all things delicious.
The performance will showcase the music of Hoagy Carmichael, Cole Porter, and Leonard Bernstein, and culminate in Lee Hoiby’s one-woman cooking demonstration opera Bon Appétit—a delightfully comedic tribute to Julia Child’s iconic television show, The French Chef. Inspired by the Sheridan Libraries’ collection of rare cookbooks, the evening will also feature a one-night-only display of select culinary treasures from this special collection.
Come savor an evening of music and rare books in one of the world’s most beautiful libraries! And remember, as Julia Child once said, “with enough butter, anything is good.”
Thursday, January 22 :: 7pm
@ Baltimore Center Stage
Vibes in Mount Vernon is a community centered artist showcase featuring performances, open mic talent, vendors, and immersive art that celebrates Baltimore creativity.
FEATURING:
Akilah Divine is a dynamic multi-disciplinary artist hailing from Baltimore, MD. She seamlessly weaves together her talents as a singer, spoken word artist, rapper, and actress. Her work has garnered attention from esteemed publications such as The Afro, Hot 97, Grid Magazine, Baltimore Times, and A&R Factory. As she continues her journey, she remains committed to creating meaningful change through the arts, advocacy, and service.
Black Chakra is a spoken word whose talents have been showcased on stages across the United States. In his time competing in poetry slam competitions he has been a national poetry slam champion, Texas Grand Slam champion, Southern Fried slam champion and a plethora of others too long to list.
J. Aria is a powerhouse vocalist redefining modern R&B with her soulful tone and commanding stage presence. Known for her standout single “DND,” she has graced stages at iconic venues like SOB’s, the Baltimore x Baltimore Festival, and Sofar Sounds. J. Aria has also graced the stage with influential 90s group Changing faces, A two-time Baltimore Crown Award nominee, J. Aria delivers artistry that resonates with the heart and inspires the ears.
GRL PWR Presents: Americana No.1 | Pangelica Album Release
Thursday, January 22 :: 9:00pm
@ Ottobar
$15
Line-up:
DJ Amsies
Alexa Bristo
Annamae
Snozzy
Pangelica
Pangelica’s second album, Americana No.1, explores themes of their own American identity, both proud and traumatic. A descendant of slaves, immigrants, and horse ranchers — they deconstruct the myth of unbelonging, and unearth the true face of America — Americana No.1
Friday, January 23 :: 5-5:45pm
@ National Museum of Women in the Arts
On the second and fourth Friday of each month, jump-start your weekend with art from the comfort of home! Join NMWA educators for informal 45-minute chats about selected artworks from NMWA’s collection or special exhibitions. Consider a new sampling of artworks in each session. You can even enjoy your favorite happy hour drink or snack during the event.
Registration is limited to 45 participants each week.
It’s simple to participate:
- Check out this week’s artworks!
- Submit the registration form to automatically receive a link to the program. A reminder email with link will also be sent the day of the program.
- Hop online and follow the instructions to join the conversation Friday at 5 pm ET.
Questions? Email [email protected].
Rich in What They Can’t Measure | Opening Reception + Art Walk
Saturday, January 24 :: 4-6pm
@ Gormley Gallery
Exhibition Dates: January 20th – February 27th, 2026
Opening Reception: Saturday January 24th, 2026
Closing Reception & Artist Talk: Friday February 27th, 2026
Notre Dame of Maryland University’s Gormley Gallery hosts a powerful
and timely exhibition, Rich in What They Can’t Measure, spotlighting four Baltimore-based Black women artists whose practices are reshaping contemporary art: Jahniah Kum, Lisa Brown, Mathilde Mujanayi, and Melissa Sutherland Moss.
Featuring painting, sculpture, photography, and video, the exhibition brings together voices whose work examines forms of value that refuse quantification—abundance, memory, lineage, intuition, and the interior worlds that thrive beyond capitalist measurement. lineage, intuition, and the interior worlds that thrive beyond capitalist measurement. At a moment when questions of visibility, representation, and agency are at the forefront of cultural conversation, this exhibition positions these four recent graduates of the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) as creative forces to watch, each offering a distinct and compelling lens on Black womanhood, presence, and brilliance.
Their practices illuminate a shared commitment to honoring the richness that lives beyond the frame, beyond the market, and beyond the structures that have historically failed to recognize the depth of Black creative expression.
Curated by Jasmine Gabrielle Washington, artist, curator, writer, filmmaker, and Master of Fine Arts candidate at MICA, the exhibition draws on her research into paradoxical visibility — the tension of being unseen and hyper-visible at once — to frame the works as sites of both revelation and refusal. Together, they assert that wealth is not something measured by accumulation, but something carried: in lineage, care, imagination, and the untranslatable fullness of Black interior life.
Rich in What They Can’t Measure invites audiences to engage with artists whose practices move with clarity, purpose, and an expansive sense of possibility. This is a show that signals the arrival of four artists shaping the future of contemporary art — a moment that Baltimore, and the wider art world, will not want to miss.
Nate GSki: Of Gods and Men | Artist Talk
Saturday, January 24 :: 7-9pm
@ Quid Nunc Art Gallery
Nate GSki is a multi-disciplinary artist from Uptown, Washington DC. He was formerly educated at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, attended the CORCORAN, & various other art-study programs. Nate has been operating as a professional artist for the past 10 years. The influence of pop culture, hip hop, politics, & religion is heavily represented in his work. Nate uses a wide range of colors that he balances to create heavy contrast evoking certain temperaments in his art. Nate GSki’s work is centered around pieces that express the black experience in America. As a native Washingtonian he depicts the Nation’s Capital through a personal lens examining the socio-political climate in DC in many mediums and themes.
Featured Opportunities
Sculpture & Assemblage Open Cal
deadline January 21
posted by Jubilee Arts
Jubilee Arts is excited to invite submissions for an upcoming exhibition focused on sculptural and assemblage-based practices rooted in material exploration and intuition.
We are curious about how objects are built, gathered, altered, or transformed. How can materials carry memory, labor, or narrative? Artists at any career stage are encouraged to apply, including those who have never exhibited before. Emerging, self-taught, and nontraditional practices are especially welcome.
This open call prioritizes BIPOC and queer artists based in Baltimore.
Wall-mounted and hanging works only. Size constraints are listed on the submission form.
Open Call: January 6–21
Deadline: January 21 at 11:59 PM
Submit via the link in our bio or scan the QR code
The exhibition will be on view from February 6 – March 6.
Open Call for Performers: Asia North 2026
deadline February 1
posted by TU Asian Arts & Culture Center and Central Baltimore Partnership
Are you a Baltimore/DMV-based musician, dancer, drag performer, comedian, spoken word poet, etc who wants to perform at the eighth annual ASIA NORTH Festival?
We are looking for performances of all kinds – from hip hop to traditional music, interactive cooking classes to spoken word poetry, drag shows to dance offs. ASIA NORTH celebrates Baltimore’s Charles North – a.k.a. Station North – neighborhood’s constantly evolving identities as a Koreatown, arts district, and creative hub.
This year’s festival runs from May 1st to 31st.
For info on previous years, visit: www.towson.edu/asianorth
Locations: Arts venues in Baltimore’s Station North Arts District TBA
Long Meadow Art Residency (LMAR)
deadline February 18
Long Meadow Art Residency (LMAR) offers solo residencies ranging from six weeks to three months in the Berkshire Mountains. LMAR provides ample studio space, on-site housing, enabling artists to immerse themselves in their practice. The residency awards a $3,000 monthly stipend, a $2,500 supply budget, professional photography of artwork and artist, access to an engaged board, a supportive cohort, and a transportation vehicle.
Houston Center for Contemporary Craft Residency
deadline February 1
A juried selection is held annually to award artists three-to-twelve month residencies. Artists selected for the program receive 24/7 access to studio space, cultural and professional development opportunities, a monthly stipend that includes a small housing/materials allowance, and the opportunity to give an artist talk. The studios are equipped with sinks, telephones and wireless Internet access. Artists are selected based on the quality of their creative work, ability to interact with the public, career direction, and program diversity.
In addition to the benefits listed above, artists have access to a wide variety of resources and opportunities, including teaching assignments through HCCC and collaborative works with fellow residents. To support artistic development, the program offers additional opportunities such as discussions with curators and gallery owners, exposure at HCCC events, and interactions with visiting art professionals.
Arts/Industry Residency
deadline February 28
posted by John Michael Kohler Art Center
For more than fifty years, Arts/Industry has been connecting artists with the resources, technology, and materials of Kohler Co., and providing a place to explore new ideas, processes, and perspectives. Artists from all disciplines are encouraged to apply. International artists are welcome and encouraged to apply as well.
Each year, up to twelve artists are selected for residencies in the Pottery or Foundry areas of the factory through a competitive jury process. No experience with clay or cast metal is required, just an interest in pursuing a new body of work and being open to new ideas.
Arts/Industry residencies are three months in length and divided into three cohorts. There are four artists-in-residence in each cohort—two in Pottery and two in Foundry. Residents are expected to commit to the full three-month period. Artists-in-residence receive 24-hour access to studio space, industrial materials, use of equipment, technical assistance, photographic services, housing, round-trip transportation, and a modest weekly stipend.
Spector Craft Prize for Emerging Artists
deadline March 1
Celebrating Excellence in American Craft
The things made by hand matter differently. A handmade object carries the trace of its maker, the legacy of tradition, and the integrity of materials transformed through skill and vision. In preserving and celebrating craft,
we preserve something essential about what it means to be human.
Through three interconnected programs, the Spector Craft Prize champions makers at pivotal moments in their careers through awards, mentorship, and community building—investing in those who will shape the future of American craft.
Studio and Curatorial Fellowships
deadline March 2
posted by NXTHVN
Each year NXTHVN welcomes up to seven artists and two curators to participate in its paid 10-month intensive Fellowship Program. Each Fellow will receive studio or office space, a stipend, and subsidized housing. Selected from an international pool of applicants, Fellows relocate to New Haven to participate in NXTHVN’s mentorship-driven curriculum which includes professional development sessions led by visiting artists, curators, scholars, and practitioners. Selected Fellows are also matched with a high school Apprentice, for focused one-on-one mutual learning, which gives the next local generation a chance to grow and excel in creative fields. The Fellowship year culminates with an annual group show at a prominent gallery space.
The Resident Artist Program
deadline March 13
posted by Creative Alliance
The Resident Artist Program is a collaborative live/work residency at Creative Alliance in Baltimore, MD designed for artists seeking sustained time, space, and community to focus on their practice. For over a decade, the program has supported artists from Baltimore and beyond through reduced-rent studio housing, professional development opportunities, and ongoing engagement within a creative environment.
From an artist’s perspective, the residency offers both mental and physical space to challenge, deepen, and sustain an art practice over time. Resident artists balance independent studio practice with cohort-based programming, opportunities to share their work publicly, and ongoing community engagement—with fellow resident artists, within Southeast Baltimore, and across the city’s broader arts ecosystem. The experience is shaped by Creative Alliance’s multidisciplinary, community-centered setting, encouraging artists to consider their practice in conversation with different artistic styles, approaches, and audiences.
The program centers on ongoing artistic production, professional development, peer exchange, and public engagement through exhibitions and events. Artists are supported not only through physical space, but through access to resources, networks, and a community that extends beyond the residency period.
