Curatorial Proposals

The following are four future art exhibitions which I have designed and propose to curate.

1) Afro-Femme: Narrative Strokes – This group exhibition will feature the works of a handful of critically-acclaimed Los Angeles-based narrative painters in an exploration of Black female identity. Some of the artists who will be invited to participate include Lezley Saar, Loren Holland, Zeal Harris and Lili Bernard.  Though distinct in the style and content of our paintings; the four of us narrative artists engage in critical discourse on Black feminism. Lezley Saar strokes her story-telling canvases with poetic other-worldly riddles, Loren Holland with sexy urban vernacular, Zeal Harris with everyday womanism, and Lili Bernard with diasporic history and religion.  This exhibition is designed for a mainstream art gallery or museum and is the first in a series of Afro-Femme art shows.

Some of the Artists Invited for Afro-Femme: Narrative Strokes – Click on artist to visit her work online.
Lezley Saar Loren Holland
Lezley Saar Loren Holland
Lili Bernard Zeal Harris
Lili Bernard Zeal Harris

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2) Colonialism: Power Concedes – This exhibition will explore the impact of colonialism on modern day life, as it relates to power.  The theme of the show is inspired by Frederick Douglass’ quote, “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.” Featured, will be the works of a multicultural group of Los Angeles-based artists. This exhibition is a follow-up to the critically acclaimed group art show, Colonialism: The Collective Unconscious, which I curated in 2011 at the William Grant Still Arts Center, Los Angeles.

Opening reception of Colonialism: The Collective Unconscious at the William Grant Still Art Center, Los Angeles. Left to right: Amitis Motevalli (center director), Cecil Ferguson (R.I.P. first Black curator at Los Angeles County Museum of Art), Lili Bernard (curator and artist in show) and daughter Zion, John Outterbridge (artist in show), guest and Greg Pitts (artist and art critic).

Opening reception of Colonialism: The Collective Unconscious at the William Grant Still Art Center, Los Angeles, October 8, 2011, curated by artist Lili Bernard. Left to right: Amitis Motevalli (center director), Cecil Ferguson (R.I.P. first Black curator at Los Angeles County Museum of Art), Lili Bernard (curator and artist in show) and daughter Zion, John Outterbridge (artist in show), guest and Greg Pitts (artist and art critic). Ranked #5 in Top 11 LA Art Shows of 2011, Huffington Post year end review by Mat Gleason. Click here to read review.

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3) BAILA sin Miedo (Dance without Fear) – In a conversation on audacity, this show will feature the works of a plethora of Black Artists in Los Angeles at all levels of their careers, from legendary and world famous to mid career and emerging. BAILA sin Miedo would be a follow-up to the critically acclaimed 75 artists exhibition, BAILA con Duende (Dance with Spirit), 2012-2013, which I curated at the Watts Towers Arts Center. [On September 19, 2014, during the California African American Museum (CAAM) Board of Directors meeting,  I proposed that this exhibition serve as the inaugural biennial of the CAAM BAILA Biennials. I’m awaiting the museum’s response.]

DuendeOpening

BAILA con Duende opening reception, Watts Towers Arts Center, September 9, 2012. Pictured is the show’s curator, artist Lili Bernard with Rick Lowe (left, MacCarthur Genius and Founder of Project Row Houses, Houston) and Mark Bradford (also a MacArthur Genius and artist in BAILA con Duende). Click here for reviews on BAILA con Duende.

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4) Afro-Femme: The Power of Black Femininity – Black women are arguably the most marginalized group of visual artists.  In a dialogue on Black feminine strength and resilience, this all-female art exhibition will feature a multi-generational large group of female Black Artists in Los Angeles (BAILA) at various levels of their career.  Below is an interactive grid of BAILA women artists who, among others, will be invited to participate in Afro-Femme: The Power of Black Femininity.  This exhibition is designed for a museum or community art center and is one in a series of Afro-Femme art shows.

BAILA (Black Artists in Los Angeles) Women (Click on artist to visit her work online.)

Samella Lewis
Artis Lane
Betye Saar
Alison Saar
Lezley Saar
Toni Scott
L.Saar
Holly Tempo
Dominique Moody
Lili Bernard
Zeal Harris
Jessica Wimbley
J. Wimbley
Castillo
Rosalyn Myles
Numa Perrier
Raksha Parekh
Lavialle Campbell
Lisa Diane Wedgeworth
June Edmonds
Isabelle Lutterodt
Donna Brown
Teresa Tolliver
Kathie Foley-Meyer
Ingrid Elburg
Donna Angers

Foley-Meyer

C. Pounder
AfraSheAsungi
Pat Payne
Rosalind McGary
Adrienne Michelle Robinson Chelle Barbour
Angela Briggs
P. Payne A. DeVine M. Robinson C. Barbour
Buena Johnson
Charla Puryear
Miriam Moore
Sharon Barnes
K. Zackery

Were this exhibition to expand and include Black female artists across the globe; the following are links to the works of Black female artists whose work may be considered: Adah Glenn, Adrian Piper, Adrienne DeVine, AfraShe Asungi, Alison Saar, Alma Thomas, Angela Briggs, April Bey, Artis Lane, Augusta Savage, Ayeola Moore, Betye Saar, Bre Gipson, Brenna Youngblood, Buena Johnson, Carrie Mae Weems, Castillo, CCH Pounder, Chakaia Booker, Charla Puryear, Charmaine Bee, Chelle Barbour, Coco Fusco, Cola Smith, Danielle Dean, Delphine Diallo, Dominique Moody, Donna Angers, Donna Brown, Ebony G. Patterson, Edmonia Lewis, Elia Alba, Ellen Gallagher, Elizabeth Catlett, Endia Beal, Esther Mahlangu, Faith Ringgold, Gwen Knight, Heather Hart, Hillary Jaynes, Holly Tempo, Howardina Pindell, Ingrid Elburg, janet e. dandridge, Jasmine Murrell, Jessica Wimbley, Joyce Owens, Julie Mehretu, June Edmonds, Kathie Foley-Meyer, Kara Walker, Karien Zackery, Karyn Olivier, Kenyatta A.C Hinkle, Kenturah Davis, Kesha Bruce, Kira Lynn HarrisLaToya Ruby Frazier, Lauren Halsey, Lauren Kelley, Lavialle Campbell, Laylah Ali, Leslie Hewitt, Lezley Saar, Lili Bernard, Lisa Diane Wedgeworth, Lisa C. Soto, Lois Mailou Jones, Loren Holland, Lorna Simpson, Lorraine O’GradyLynette Yiadom Boakyes, Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons, Maren Hassinger, Marisa Williamson, Martine Syms, Mendi Obadike, Mequita Ahuja, Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller, Michelle Robinson, Mickalene ThomasMildred Howard, Miriam Moore, Myrlande Contsant, Nadine Robinson, Nandipha Mntambo, Nicola Goode, Njideka Akunyili CrosbyNoni Olabisi, Notsikelelo Veleko, Numa PerrierNzuji De Magalhaes, Pat Payne, Pat Ward Williams, Raksha Parekh, Renée Cox, Renée Green, Ronda Brown, Rosalind McGary, Rosalyn Myles, Ruth Waddy, Samella Lewis, Saya Woolfalk, Senga Nengudi, Shantell Martin, Sharon Barnes, Shinique Smith, Simone Leigh, Sister Gertrude Morgan, Sondra Perry, Suné Woods, Suzanne Jackson, Sylvia Maier, Tanea Richardson, Tameka Norris, Teresa Tolliver, Toni Scott, Valerie Piraino, Varnette Honeywood, Wangechi Mutu, Xaviera Simmons, Zeal Harris and Zina Saro-Wiwa.