Join us for the opening reception for Future Histories: New Acquisitions at The Driskell Center on February 7, 2025, at 5 pm.

Since its founding, The Driskell Center has expanded its holdings to become an invaluable resource for understanding African American and African diasporic art. Visitors will experience the diversity and breadth of Black art represented by The Driskell Center’s vast permanent collections and see artworks and other materials that might otherwise be in long-term storage. This exhibition highlights materials acquired between 2018 and the fall of 2024, including books, archival materials and nearly 45 artworks on display here for the first time. But the exhibition’s organizers, Assistant Director of Exhibitions & Programs Abby Eron and Director Jordana Moore Saggese, also say this exhibition is an opportunity to think about the role that collections of Black art, particularly in a public university, play in creating a cultural history that will be accessible to future generations. As described by Saggese, “‘Future Histories’ is an exploration of the past, present and future of Black art.”

As part of “Future Histories,” The Driskell Center invites the community to shape its future collection through a unique engagement initiative. Thanks to a partnership with Galerie Myrtis (Baltimore, Md.), visitors will have the opportunity to vote on the next artwork to be acquired by The Driskell Center. This democratic approach reinforces the center’s commitment to community involvement and its mission of creating a history reflective of shared values and diverse voices.

Curated by Abby Eron and Jordana Moore Saggese with design and installation by Korey Richardson and with curatorial assistance from Graduate Assistant JooHee Kim, the exhibition is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council (http://msac.org), the University of Maryland’s Arts for All initiative, and Galerie Myrtis.