EXHIBITION

WELCOME!

The fourth version of the Richmond Virginia Black Lives Matter Art Show is now virtual. This 2021 online exhibition is available for viewing beginning on February 1, 2021 which is the first day of Black History Month and will continue to be available for viewing online till the next BLM RVA ART Exhibition planned for 2022.

BLM RVA ART 2021 includes 130+ works from 80+ artists. The mission of the show is to gather the community together to combat institutional racism, to champion racial justice, to promote spaces for the black imagination and to celebrate black joy. The artwork is displayed in six online galleries: Injustice in America, The Black Pastoral, Inspiration and Aspiration, Identity, In Memoriam, and Black Lives Matter - Uncategorized. There is also an Emerging Voices category for artists under the age of 18.

Guest curators, Emily Smith and Francis Thompson, have selected a work from each of the six themes that most exemplify the spirit of that category. Those works are included in the images above, and as the cover image for each of our online galleries. You can read the curators' comments about their choices and other work in the show by clicking this link.

Special Online Events & Programming

Current Event

JENNIFER YANE INTERVIEWS DOROTHY RICE - First Friday, May 7, 2021, 7:00pm premiered on our YouTube channel

You can view a pre-recorded video conversation between Steering Committee member Jennifer Yane and Steering Committee member Dorothy Rice, one of the artists in this exhibition. View this interview and past and future interviews by subscribing to our YouTube channel After its premiere, this interview video will be available for viewing any time throughout the run of this online exhibition.


Upcoming Events

SHANTELL LEWIS INTERVIEWS RONALD WALTON & DENNIS WINSTON - First Friday, June 4, 2021, 7:00pm premieres on our YouTube channel

Beginning at 7:00pm on June 4th, you can view a pre-recorded video conversation between Steering Committee member Shantell Lewis and Ronald Walton and Dennis Winston, two of the artists in this exhibition. View this interview and past and future interviews by subscribing to our YouTube channel After its premiere, this interview video will be available for viewing any time throughout the run of this online exhibition.


DOROTHY RICE INTERVIEWS JALIA HARDY - First Friday, July 2, 2021, 7:00pm premieres on our YouTube channel

Beginning at 7:00pm on July 2nd, you can view a pre-recorded video conversation between Steering Committee member Dorothy Rice and Jalia Hardy, one of the emerging artists in this exhibition. View this interview and past and future interviews by subscribing to our YouTube channel After its premiere, this interview video will be available for viewing any time throughout the run of this online exhibition.


RICHARD BARGDILL INTERVIEWS DARLENE ANITA SCOTT - First Friday, August 6, 2021, 7:00pm premieres on our YouTube channel

Beginning at 7:00pm on July 2nd, you can view a pre-recorded video conversation between Steering Committee member Richard Bargdill and Darlene Anita Scott, one of the artists in this exhibition. View this interview, and past and future interviews by subscribing to our YouTube channel After its premiere, this interview video will be available for viewing any time throughout the run of this online exhibition.

Check back here for more monthly First Friday online events throughout the remainder of the year.


Archived Events

ANNE WRINN INTERVIEWS NOAH SCALIN

You can view a pre-recorded video conversation between Steering Committee member Anne Wrinn and Noah Scalin, one of the artists in this exhibition. Noah talks about his work "The Fire Next Time: Olivia Hooker." View this and future interviews by subscribing to our YouTube channel This interview video premiered on our YouTube channel on April 2, 2021 and will be available for viewing any time throughout the run of this online exhibition.


CURATORS' CHOICES - video recordings of interviews between our guest curators and selected artists

You can view our pre-recorded video conversations between our guest curators Emily Smith and Francis Thompson and some of the artists in this exhibition. View these and future interviews by subscribing to our YouTube channel These interview videos premiered on our YouTube channel on March 5, 2021 and are now available for viewing any time throughout the run of this online exhibition.


You can link to each individual video, by clicking on the links below:

· Injustice in America: Reclaiming the Monuments Project interviewed by Francis Thompson.

· The Black Pastoral: Dayna Balough interviewed by Francis Thompson

· Inspiration & Aspiration: Greg Alston interviewed by Francis Thompson

· Identity: Eric Robinson interviewed by Emily Smith

· In Memoriam: Camara Ward interviewed by Emily Smith

· BLM - Uncategorized: Shantell Lewis interviewed by Emily Smith

You can see and read about the Curators' Choices here.


OPENING EVENT - a video recording of February 5 opening event

Daphne Maxwell Reid was the MC for this Zoom event where over 40 artists in the exhibition spoke about their work in this online exhibition. A video recording of this event is available on our YouTube channel.

Thanks to Our Partners

The following organizations have helped distribute our Call for Entries and/or hosted a link to this virtual exhibition.(Click on their logos and be taken to their website.)