A global list of Black-owned/founded museums, art galleries, and spaces

George Floyd’s murder on 25 May 2020 was the flashpoint for hundreds of years of racial injustice, disrimination, and inequality. Protests erupted in cities around the world over Floyd’s death, as well as Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery and the thousands upon thousands of innocent lives cut short that have received no justice. As cities continue to march for change and in solidarity, an outpouring of support for the Black community came in the form of lists of Black businesses to support – from fashion to music, food, beauty, and lifestyle.

The deafening silence of the artworld spoke volumes, as white-founded, white-owned, white-run, and white-staffed art institutions around the world scrambled to post their black squares whilst failing to acknowledge their own role in perpetuating racial oppression.

In recent years there has been no shortage of the works of Black artists being exhibited, sold, and auctioned, but there remains a disparity between the number of Black artists on the walls and Black people in positions of power within institutional walls.

As the art world and its institutions must now begin the work of unlearning and dismantling the only ways in which many have ever known, we have compiled a list of Black-founded museums, art galleries, and art spaces from around the world that you can throw your support behind – if you haven’t already.

This list is no where near finished. If you have a museum, gallery, or institution you’d like to add, then please email me at ashleigh.kane@dazedmedia.com. I hope this list can be a growing resource, or a directory, for art industry figures and fans to reference as we emphasise the contributions of the Black arts community.

UNITED KINGDOM

LONDON

198 CONTEMPORARY ARTS & LEARNING

198 Contemporary Arts & Learning was originally founded by John ‘Noel’ Morgan and Zoë Linsley-Thomas as Roots Community Limited amongst the embers of London’s social unrest of the 1980s which saw rioting in Brixton on two occasions. 198 is committted to diversity, inclusion, and equality, and its work within the art community goes hand in hand with social activism.

198 Contemporary Arts & Learning is at 198 Railton Rd, Brixton, London SE24 0JT. Find out more here

ADDIS FINE ART

Founded in 2016 by Rakeb Sile and Mesai Haileleul, Addis Fine Art was the first local white cube space and international platform in Ethiopia, and has fast become one of the leading galleries from Africa. It’s London space in Kensington highlights modern and contemporary fine art by African diaspora. 

Addis Fine Art London, 1 – 5 Cromwell Place, South Kensington, London SW7 2JE (Opening Autumn 2020). Find out more here

AUTOGRAPH ABP

In 1988, Sunil Gupta, Monika Baker, Merle Van den Bosch, Pratibha Parmar, Ingrid Pollard, Roshini Kempadoo, Armet Francis, and Rotimi Fani-Kayode banded together as the Association of Black Photographers to create a programme of advocacy, exhibitions, and publication. In 1991, Mark Sealy joined as the Director – a role which he remains in to this day. For more than three decades, Autograph has advocated for artists who have been excluded from the mainstream with work that crosses into activism.

Autograph ABP is at Rivington Pl, Hackney, London EC2A 3BA. Find out more here

BLACK CULTURAL ARCHIVES

Founded in 1981 by the late activist and historian Len Garrison, the Black Cultural Archives is the UK’s only national heritage centre dedicated to the history of Black people in Britain. The archives collect, preserve, and celebrate the histories of African and Carribean people in Britain, from Roman era to present day. It’s aim is for members of the community to find positive representations of themselves in history and culture.

Black Cultural Archives is at 1 Windrush Square, Brixton SW2 1EF. Find out more here

GUEST PROJECTS

Founded by Yinka Shonibare’s Shonibare Studio, the Guests Projects arts space offers an opportunity for projects of any artistic discipline, including dance, visual arts, and music, to have access to a free project space for one month. The space also hosts a range of talks and events, including the Artist Dining Room, a themed supper club where artists can discuss ideas and meet one another.

Guest Projects is at 1 Andrews Rd, Hackney, London E8 4QL. Find out more here

INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL VISUAL ARTS (INIVA)

Founded in 1994 under the leadership of cultural theorist Stuart Hall, and funded by Arts Council England, Iniva aims to elevate culturally diverse artists and curators in the UK. Described as an “evolving, radical visual arts organisation” it is “dedicated to eveloping an artistic programme that reflects on the social and political impact of globalisation”. Iniva works with British-born and British-based visual artists of African and Asian descent by supporting them at various stages in their careers. Residencies, new commissions artistic promotion, and development are also key to its mission.

Iniva is at 16 John Islip St, Westminster, London SW1P 4JU. Find out more here

TAFETA (LONDON AND LAGOS)

Tafeta is a London-based gallery specialising in 20th century and contemporary African art. Founded in 2013 by Ayo Adeyinka, the gallery (which also has a space in Lagos, Nigeria) also heads a contemporary programme, which seeks to represent emerging, mid-career and established artists in Africa and the diaspora. 

Tafeta is at 47-50 Margaret St, Marylebone, London W1W 8SB. Find out more here

EUROPE

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

MUSEUM OF MODERN AFRICAN ART (MOMAA)

During his residency at Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten in Amsterdam, artist Meshac Gaba conceived the Museum of Contemporary African Art. As reported by the Tate, Gaba had described “finding another reality when visiting museums in Europe, a reality in which he could not imagine how the art he wanted to create could be integrated”, he said, “I needed a space for my work, because this did not exist.”

MOMAA exists an online museum and hosts pop up exhibitions in Amsterdam.

Find out more here

MARSEILLE, FRANCE

GALLERY NOSCO

Facilitating “cultural exchanges in contemporary art”, Gallery Noscow was founded in 2007 by Cyril Moumen. Through exhibitions and residency programmes, the gallery aims to “enrich the difference between conceptualism, practices, political environments and cultural history in a contemporary art society.” As well as African artists, Gallery Nosco exhibits artists from the UK, Europe, and Latin America.

Gallery Nosco is at 2 Rue Francis Chirat, 13002, Marseille. Find out more here

PARIS, FRANCE

(S)ITOR

Longtime collector Sitor Senghor’s (S) ITOR is a contemporary art gallery represeting a diverse roster of artists from various backgrounds.

(S) ITOR is at 93, boulevard Raspail, 75006, Paris. Find out more here

BERLIN, GERMANY

SAVVY

A non-profit art space, Berlin-based Savvy Contemporary is an experimental studio, performative space, gallery, and cultural development exchange founded by Dr. Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, where creatives can meet and exchange ideas. Every two months, the gallery hosts one artist from Europe or North America and one from Africa, South America, or Asia to address current issues in the arts, sociology, or philosophy. These ideas are moderated by a guest curator, and the whole process is presented in an exhibition, with the aim of developing a critical discourse between Western and non-Western art.

Savvy is at Plantagenstraße 31, 13347 Berlin, Germany. Find out more here

FRANKFURT, GERMANY

SAKHILE MATLHARE

Sakhile&Me was co-founded by Sakhile Matlhare and Daniel Hagemeier as an “international exhibition and research space” which works with emerging and established artists, curators, critics, and researchers. With a focus on artists from the African continent and its diasporas, its mission is to encourage a deeper understanding and appreciation of African art.

Sakhile&Me is at Oberlindau 7, 60323 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Find out more here

THE AFRICAN CONTINENT

DOUALA, CAMEROON

GALERIE MAM

Founded in 1995 by “art lover and business woman” Marème Malong Meslin Samb,Galerie, MAM Douala is a contemporary art gallery with a purpose to deepen audiences appreciation of the art it showcases – “to make a work feel better”.

Galerie MAM is at Rue Tobie Kuoh, Bonanjo, Douala, B.P. 40, Cameroon. Find out more here

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPHIA

ZOMA MUSEUM

Founded by Elias Sime and Meskerem Assegued in 2019, Zoma Museum is an environmentally conscious institution – built using traditional techniques and materials such as mud, straw, stone, wood, and cement – showcasing contemporary art. Alongside exhibition space, Zoma Museum is home to a library, children’s centre, edible garden, elementary school, art and vernacular school, amphitheatre, and museum shop.

Zoma Museum is at 6050, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Find out more here

ACCRA, GHANA

NUBUKE FOUNDATION

The founding of Nubuke Foundation was on the initiative of artist Kofi Setordji whose aim was to celebrate and promote Ghana’s young art scene while “conveying the country’s cultural heritage to a broad audience”. Alongside its exhibition space, Nubuke Foundation also hosts workshops, readings, performances, and a residency programme.

Nubuke Foundation is at 7 Lome Close, Accra, Ghana. Find out more here

ABUJA, NIGERIA

RETRO AFRICA

Founded in 2015 by Dolly Kola-Balogun, Retro Africa is a contemporary art gallery and platform for established and emerging artists. Its mission is to “encourage a cycle of growth and learning within the African art scene”.

Retro Africa is at Ukpabi Asika St, Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria. Find out more here

THOUGHT PYRAMID

Dubbed “Nigeria’s number one art gallery”, Thought Pyramid was founded by art curator Jeff Ajueshi in 2007. In his commitment to advancing contemporary art in Nigeria, Ajueshi also founded the Foundation for Arts and Creative Training (FACT), an arts residency programme in Oghara, Delta state, which helps unemployed young people in Niger Delta.

Thought Pyramid is at 18 Libreville Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja. Find out more here

CAPE TOWN AND JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

Founded by South African art dealer and collector, Monna Mokoena in 2002, Gallery MOMO is a contemporary art gallery which has spaces in Johannesburg and Cape Town. It describes itself as having “a strong creative and intellectual platform for showcasing a substantial portfolio of South African, continental and international contemporary art”. Gallery MOMO also manages the estates of notable 20th century South African masters.

Gallery MOMO is at 16 Buiten Street, Ground Floor, Cape Town, 8001, and 52 7th Avenue, Parktown North,Johannesburg, 2193. Find out more here

LAGOS, NIGERIA

ARTYRAMA

Founded in Lagos, ARTYRAMA is an online gallery which find its way offline through pop-up exhibitions and a global art fair presence. Its aim is to “bridge the gap” between young and emerging artists and collectors.

Find out more here

G.A.S.

Another space from Yinka Shonibare. This artist residency space in Lagos, Nigeria, is due to open in 2021, as a non-profit dedicated to facilitating international artistic exchanges and developing creative practises through art residencies and international collaborations. 

Find out more here

MYDRIM GALLERY

Founded in 1992 by Sinmidele Adesanya and Bambo Adesanya SAN, Mydrim Gallery is one of the most-longstanding galleries in Lagos. Described as “a reality borne out of a dream rooted in a passion for the beauty expressed through art”, the gallery showcases contemporary works by artists working across disciplines. In more than 25 years, it has hosted performances, readings, receptions, symposiums, as well as art exhibitions.

Mydrim Gallery is at 74 Norman Williams St, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria. Find out more here

NIKE ARTS CENTRE FOR ART AND CULTURE (LAGOS, ABUJA, KOGI, AND OSUN)

Founded by Nike Davies-Okundaye, Nike Arts Centre for Art and Culture is known as the largest of its kind in West Africa. Existing inside a five-story building, Nike Art Gallery features more than 8,000 artworks from Nigerian artists. Not simply confined to its Lagos location, Nike Arts also has spaces in Abuja, Kogi, and Osun.

Find out more here

SMO CONTEMPORARY ART

Founded by social activist, art collector, and filmmaker Sandra Mbanefo Obiago, SMO Contemporary Art showcases contemporary art exhibitions for masters as well as emerging names creating visual art, performance, film, and new media work.

Find out more here

DAKAR, SENEGAL

BLACK ROCK

New York-based painter Kehinde Wiley’s Black Rock is a luxurious residency programme and studio space based in Senegal. Three multidisciplinary artists at a time will be invited to the space to take part in sessions between one and three months. Each resident will be provided tutoring in English, French, and Wolof, and will attend studio visits with local and visiting artists and curators.

Find out more here

KAMPALA, UGANDA

AFRIART GALLERY

Founded in 2002 by artist, curator, and art promoter Daudi Karungi as a way for the community and its visitors to “experience the exquisite art of Uganda”, Afriart Gallery has launched the careers of many artists who are now internationally acclaimed.

Alongside two gallery locations, Afriart Gallery operates the Silhouette Project Artist Residency Programme (SP-AIR), which gives artists a space to create, develop, and succeed. Karungi is also the founder of START, Uganda’s first art criticism journal.

Find out more here

AUSTRALIA

MELBOURNE, VICTORIA

BLAK DOT

Founded in 2011, Black Dot Gallery is a contemporary Indigenous-run art gallery and performance space which showcases art from Indigenous cultures from around the world. The non-profit programmes around six exhibitions per year alongside events and workshops.

Blak Dot is at 33 Saxon Street Brunswick (Via Dawson st), 3056. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Find out more here

NORTH AMERICA

TORONTO, CANADA

BLACK ARTISTS’ NETWORKS IN DIALOGUE (BAND)

BAND Gallery (Black Artists’ Networks in Dialogue) is a space which connects Black culture to communities “to inspire, enlighten, and educate through the arts”. Dedicated to developing emerging artists, curators, and administrators, BAND showcases both Canadian and international artists through its programmes.

BAND is at 19 Brock Ave, Toronto, ON M6K 2K9, Canada. Find out more here

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

HEARN FINE ART

Since being founded in 1988 by Archie and Garbo Hearne, Hearn Fine Art has been guided by the needs and desires of the community that surrounds it. An exhibitor of African American art, in its three decades, the gallery has showcased a a variety of artists working across mediums, from sculpture to photography, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, painting, and more. 

Hearn Fine Art is at 1001 Wright Ave, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72206. Find out more here

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

ART\+PRACTICE

Founded by artist Mark Bradforf, philantrophist and collector Eileen Harris Norton, and social activist Allan DiCastro, Art\+Practice (A\+P) is a 20,000 square foot space which offers an exhibition space, a public programme space for panels, talks, screenings, and more, as well as housing opportunities for local foster youth. It’s mission is to provide free access to contemporary art which celebrates artists of colour.

Art\+Practice exhibition space is at 3401 West 43rd Place, Los Angeles, California 90008. Find out more here

ARTFULLY SPACED GALLERY

Founded in 2016, Artfully Spaced Gallery’s mission to bring both local and international artists to the community “to expand art appreciation multi-generationally and culturally”. In the four years since it launched, artists from all over the world have exhibition work within its walls – from Sao Paulo to Dakar, and Lagos, as well as Inglewood, and surrounding Californian cities. Alongside exhibitions, the not-for-profit provides workshops, hosts lectures, discussions, and more.

Artfully Spaced Gallery is at 4401 West Slauson Avenue, Los Angeles, California, 90043. Find out more here

BAND OF VICES

A platform for emerging and mid career contemporary artists working across disciplines such as painting, drawing, mixed media, photography, and sculpture, Band of Vices was founded in 2015 by actor and art curator Terrell Tilford. It is Tilford’s second art space, his first, Tilford Art Group, ran from 1999 to 2010, having launched in New York City before moving to Mid City, Los Angeles.

Band of Vices is at 5376 West Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90016. Find out more here

THE COMPOUND

For the last 13 years, Free Richardson has been running creative agency Compound in the South Bronx as a place where creatives meet to exchange ideas. In 2018, he opened The Compound with Yasiin Bey (as in, Mos Def) as a natural extension of the original business. It’s here that artists (and art forms) typically excluded from the gallery system can come together, from hip-hop artists and photographers to street artists.

The Compound is at 2422 3rd Ave, The Bronx, NY 10454. Find out more here

DOMINIQUE GALLERY

“It's hard to be an artist”, reads Dominique Gallery’s mission statement. “It's even harder to be a Black artist or female artist or queer artist or any other artist that the majority of public audiences aren't used to seeing, understanding or valuing enough to buy their work. ” It is in these words that Dominique Gallery pledges its allegiance – to offer a space where artists can “exist, be seen, and valued”.

Founded by Dominique Clayton, alongside its physical space, Dominique Gallery is working on ensuring its virtual channels, such as social media, supports and facilitates this ethos too.

Dominique Gallery is at 5654 West Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 90016. Find out more here

GALERIE LAKAYE

Operating out of founders Carine Fabius and Pascal Giacomini’s home in Hollywood, the gallery opened in 1990 and introduced “little-known and museum-stature” Haitian artists to Los Angeles.

While the gallery opens on an appointment only basis, an abundance of its artworks are available to view online.

Find out more here

NOUS TOUS COMMUNITY GALLERY

Founded by artists Teresa Hu and Maceo “Paisley” Keeling in 2016, Nous Tous Community Gallery is – as the name suggests – part gallery, part community space based in Los Angeles. Primarily, it focuses on emerging artists and cross-cultural dialogue, and is supported by the non-profit organisation Citizens of Culture, which aims to help under resources communities through arts and media.

Artists who have shown in the gallery include Panteha Abareshi and Ozodi Onyeabor.

Nous Tous Community Gallery is at 454B Jung Jing Road, Los Angeles, California, 90012. Find out more here

QUOTIDIAN

Founded by Jill Moniz and Francis Kelly (who sadly passed away in 2017), Quotidian brings “extraordinary aesthetics into the every day life of Los Angeles”.

Quotidian is at 410 Spring Street, Los Angeles, California, 90013. Find out more here

SON. STUDIO

Justen LeRoy launched SON. Studio in 2017, having been deeply inspired by the late artist and curator Noah Dillon and Underground Museum. Operating from within his father’s longstanding barbershop in South Central, SON. acts as a platform to explore the multi-faceted experiences of Black men.

Outside of the IRL space, SON. Studio hosts online programming, with details posted on its Instagram page.

Find out more here

SUPERPOSITION GALLERY

The nomadic Superposition gallery was founded in 2018 by artist and curator Storm Ascher. It describes itself as a “socially conscious approach to contemporary art with a focus on borrowed space”, and exhibits emerging and mid career artists from around there world. While it was founded in Los Angeles, due to not having a permanant space, it has popped up to host events, exhibitions, and performances in New York and Miami too.

Find out more here

UNDERGROUND MUSEUM

Founded by the late artist and curator Noah Dillon, the Underground Museum has long brought museum-worthy art to Los Angeles’ West Adams neighbourhood. Since his passing in 2015 from cancer, The Underground Museum is a family-run business, headed up by Noah’s wife, Karon Davis, his brother Kahlil Joseph, and more.

Having exhibited artists such as Deana Lawson, Rodney McMillian, Roy DeCarava, as well as Noah’s own art, the Underground Museum is a landmark in not just its community but the wider art world. Alongside exhibitions, the museum hosts meditation sessions, an organic food market, film screenings, and more.

Underground Museum is at 3508 West Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90018. Find out more here

FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA

M. HANKS GALLERY

Since its founding in 1988 by Eric Hanks, the M. Hanks Gallery (by appointment only) has specialised in African American art which span drawing, paintings, sculpture, collage, assemblage, and prints. Alongside the art, Hanks also writes essays and articles about artists such as Emilio Cruz and Artis Lane.

M. Hanks Gallery, 2501 East Chapman Avenue, Suite 235, Fullerton, California, 92831. Find out more here

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA

CRENSHAW DAIRY MART

Co-founded by Noé Olivas, Alexandre Dorriz, and Patrisse Cullors-Brignac, The Crenshaw Dairy Mart is home to an artist collective and art gallery committed to “shifting the trauma-induced conditions of poverty and economic injustice, bridging cultural work and advocacy, and investigating ancestries through the lens of Inglewood and its community.”

Led by eight “Guiding Lights” which include points such as “To create a felt sense of nationhood” and “To create a space to practice re-iterations”, Crenshaw Dairy Mart brings art and activism under one roof. Whether through Cullors-Brignac’s online MFA programme which aims to develop artists-activists or the coordination of art supply kits for high schools in its area.

Crenshaw Dairy Mart is at 8629 Crenshaw Blvd, Inglewood, California. Find out more here

THE CREATIVE HOUSE

Founded in 2016 by author and artist Rasta Asaru El, The Creative House is a not-for-profit that has shown artists such as Timothy Washington, Toni Scott, Joe Sims, and Charles Dickson, amongst others. The Creative House also provides free art education for children and adults.

The Creative House is at 122 N Market St, Inglewood, California, 9030. Find out more here

RESIDENCY ART GALLERY

Founded by Rick Garzon, Residency Art Gallery celebrates and elevates contemporary artists of colour that create projects for communities of colour. Alongside its exhibitions, it hosts regular dialogues between artists, activists, and the community through discussions held in its space.

Residency Art Gallery is at 310 E Queen St, Inglewood, California, 90301. Find out more here

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

THELMA HARRIS ART GALLERY

Founded in 1987, The Thelma Harris Art Gallery specialises in works by emerging, mid career, and established contemporary African American artists. From Jonathan Green to Claude Clark, the gallery showcases “around ten” exhibitions per year which explore various themes as well as individual artists.

Thelma Harris Art Gallery is at 5940 College Avenue, Oakland, California, 94618. Find out more here

MIAMI, FLORIDA

HAMPTON ART LOVERS

Founded by Christopher Norwood, Imani Greene, and Darryl L. Neverson, Hampton Art Lovers aims to “accentuate the inspirational unifying and enriching aspects of African American Fine Art in new and old settings.” With a deep appreciation of African American Fine Art, it has exhibited artists such as Ernie Barnes, Buck!, Musa Hixson, amongst others.

Hampton Art Lovers Gallery Space is at 249 NW 9th Street, Miami, Florida, 3313. Find out more here

N'NAMDI CONTEMPORARY

Although officially founded in 2012 by Jumaane N’Namdi – a second generation art dealer – N’Namdi Contemporary’s programme dates back to 1981. Having spanned Detroit, Chicago, and New York, its focus is now on Miami. The gallery holds not just a local presence but has collaborated with major museums such as The Perez Art Museum Miami, The Smithsonian, The Studio Museum of Harlem, and more.

N’Namdi Contemporary is at 6505 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida, 33138. Find out more here

YEELEN GALLERY

Director Karla Ferguson and husband, painter Jerome Soimaud, founded Yeelen Gallery in 2008 as an incubator and art space dedicated to the development, promotion, and expression of “contemporary urban culture”. 

The intersection of art and social practice the gallery also hosts music concerts, literary readings, and dinner series in its expansive 13,000 square foot space.

Yeelen Gallery is at 294 NW 54th St Miami Florida 33127

ATLANTA, GEORGIA

AFRICAN DIASPORA ART MUSUEM (ADAMA)

Founded by the incredible artist Fahamu Pecou, ADAMA highlights the global Black experience. Its programming aims “to present and advance the exploration and conversations around 21st century contemporary art and culture of the African Diaspora” through its exhibitions, programmes, and residencies.

Find out more here

ARNIKA DAWKINS GALLERY

Arnika Dawkins Gallery specialises in exhibiting fine art from emerging and established African American photographers, as well as images which document the African American experience. 

Arnika Dawkins Gallery is at 4600 Cascade Road, Atlanta, Georgia, 30331. Find out more here

HAMMONDS HOUSE MUSEUM

Hammonds House Museum is the former residence of Atlanta physician and arts patron Dr. Otis Thrash Hammonds. After his passing in 1985, the house, along with Hammonds’ art collection, were purchased by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. Initially it was intended to become the African American research library but after the library board passed on the building, Edward S. Spriggs, who was the Director of Studio Museum of Harlem at the time, submitted a proposal to turn the house into a museum. 

Hammonds House Museum exhibits a permanant collection over 450 works which date back to the mid-19th century. A “mecca” for art from the African Diaspora, highlights include James Van Der Zee, Romare Bearden, and Sam Gilliam.

Hammonds House Museum is at 503 Peeples Street, Atlanta, Georgia, 30310. Find out more here

SEPTEMBER GRAY GALLERY

September Gray opened her namesake gallery in 2012 after identifying a void in venues showcasing African American fine art. Originally located in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward, in 2017, the gallery moved to Buckhead. The gallery focusses on showcasing both solo and group shows featuring work by emerging, mid career, and established African American and African Diasporic artists.

September Gray is at 75 Bennett St, NW Suit O-2, Atlanta, Georgia, 30309. Find out more here 

SPELMAN COLLEGE MUSEUM OF FINE ART

The Superman College Museum of Fine Art has spent almost 25 years serving as a touchstone for the Atlanta community. It primarily showcases art by women of the African diaspora through exhibitions, programmes, and its permanent collection.

Spelman College Museum of Fine art is at 350 Spelman Ln SW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30314. Find out more here

ZuCOT GALLERY

Founded in 2008 by Troy Taylor – “an engineer who developed a passion for collecting art during his global travels as a Fortune 500 corporate executive – ZuCot Gallery borrows its namesake from the nickname of Troy’s paternal grandmother. It claims to be the largest African American Fine Arts Gallery in the southeastern United States. More than an exhibition space, it aims to grow a community of like-minded art lovers.

ZuCot Gallery is at 100 Centennial Olympic Park Drive, SW Atlanta, Georgia, 30313. Find out more here

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA

SABREE’S GALLERY OF THE ARTS

Founded by artist Patricia Elaine Sabree, Sabree’s Gallery is dedicated to preserving the Gullah culture, a combination of the African and low country cultures of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, with its roots in the slave trade.

Sabree’s Gallery of the Arts is at 309 West Saint Julian Street, Savannah, Georgia, 31401. Find out more here

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

ANTHONY GALLERY

Founder Isimeme ‘Easy’ Otabor’s Anthony Gallery exhibits contemporary art from emerging and established artists from all over the world. ‘Easy’ built a name for himself as a buyer and manager at Chicago’s RSVP Gallery before launching the clothing label Infinite Archives. In 2019, he turned his hand to the art world with the opening of Anthony Gallery. Through a range of solo and group shows, Anthony Gallery has hosted Michael Jordan themed exhibitions, as well as museum-curated names such as Sterling Ruby.

Anthony Gallery is at 470 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, Illinois, 60654. Find out more here

GALLERY GUICHARD

Co-founded by the artist Andre Guichard, his wife Frances, and Stephen Mitchell in 2005. Gallery Guichard has long celebrated multicultural artists who specialise in the African Diaspora and work across mediums such as painting, ceramics, blown glass, and photography.

Gallery Guichard is at 436 East 47th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60653

MARIANE IBRAHIM GALLERY

Since 2012, Mariane Ibrahim Abdi-Ibrahim has cemented her star status in the art world with an eye for talent and programming as the founder of Seattle-based M.I.A. Gallery – short for Missing in Art, as well as her own initials. In 2019, she relocated to Chicago and opened her namesake gallery, which has continued to champion young artists of colour such as Clotilde Jiménez and Amoako Boafo.

Mariane Ibrahim Gallery is at 437 North Paulina St, Chicago, Illinois, 60622

REBUILD FOUNDATION

Founded by artist Theaster Gates in 2009, Rebuild Foundation does much more than just exhibits art – it supports and develops the artists making it and the communities in which they come from. In fact, The Rebuild Foundation is an umbrella for seven projects, which includes Stony Island Arts Bank, Black Cinema House, Black Artists Retreat, and more. Described as a “platform for art, cultural development, and neighbourhood transformation”, Rebuild Foundation “supports artists and strengthen communities by providing free arts programming, creating new cultural amenities, and developing affordable housing, studio, and live-work space”.

Rebuild Foundation is at 6760 South Stony Island Ave, Chicago, Illinois, 60649. Find out more here

SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY ART CENTER (SSCAC)

Founded in 1940 by Dr. Margaret Burroughs and other African American artists who were “determined to find a venue to showcase their art”. The SSCAC is the only African American Art Centre of its kind which was opened under President Roosevelt’s WPA Initiative to remain continuously open.

A cultural hub which connects its community with both local and international artists, SSCAC’s programming has showcased prominent African American artists such as poet Gwendolyn Brooks, photographerGordon Parks, painter Charles White, and many more.

Southside Community Art Center is at 3831 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60653. Find out more here

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY

E&S GALLERY

Established in 1989 by Walter Shannon, and still run by Shannon and his wife, E&S Gallery is one of the oldest and largest dedicated African American fine art galleries worldwide.

The gallery offers original work from acclaimed artists including Elizabeth Catlett, Jacob Lawrence, and Richard Mayhew.

E&S Gallery is at 108 S 10th St, Louisville, Kentucky, 40202. Find out more here

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

STELLA JONES ART GALLERY

Founded in 1996, Stella Jones Gallery was the “realisation of a dream” and exhibits artists from the African diaspora. Alongside exhibitions, the gallery also hosts lectures, panels, and talks for its artists and the community. A private extension of the gallery, owner Stella Jones’ own home has been described as a “living museum” where “almost every space is filled with art”.

Stella Jones Art Gallery is at Place St. Charles, 201 St Charles Ave #132, New Orleans, Louisiana 70170. Find out more here

TERRANCE OSBORNE GALLERY

With a focus on vivid colour and documenting his culturally diverse surroundings, painter Terrance Osborne established himself as a part of the New Orleans art scene in the 90s, and has since gone on to teach and work in partnership with companies such as Nike. Osborne uses his eponymous gallery, also based in New Orleans, to sell his own artworks.

Terrance Osborne Gallery is at 3029 Magazine Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70115. Find out more here

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

GALERIE MYRTIS

Galerie Myrtis is a contemporary art gallery representing emerging and mid career artists. Its founder Myrtis Bedolla brings her expansive art world experience under one roof and hosts around six exhibitions each year, which have previously included artists such as Charles White and Amy Sherald. 

WALLER GALLERY

Founded in 2017 by curator and scholar Joy Davis, Waller Gallery features art across several disciplines – including craft, design, social practice, and digital art – with a focus on art by people of colour. The gallery engages with artists at any stage of their practice, and commits itself to the tradition of Black-owned businesses in Baltimore, where it is based.

The gallery’s first show was also writer and artist Nia Hampton’s first solo exhibition.

Waller Gallery is at 2420 North Calvert St, Baltimore, Maryland, 21218. Find out more here

DETROIT, MICHIGAN

NORWEST GALLERY OF ART

Opened in 2018 by owner and photographer Asia Hamilton, Norwest Gallery of Art – aptly located in the Norwest Neighborhood of Detroit – is a contemporary art gallery with a focus on African and African American work, aiming to promote artworks that “provide an engaging and explosive voice”.

Norwest Gallery of Art is at 19556 Grand River Ave, Detroit, Michigan, 48223. Find out more here

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA

JUXTAPOSITION ARTS

Founded in 1995 by DeAnna Cummings, Roger Cummings, and Peyton Scott Russell, non-profit Juxtaposition Arts is an exibition space, artists’ studio space, education centre, and retail shop staffed by teens. For two decades, its mission has been to empower youth and “develop community by engaging and employing young urban artists in hands-on education initiatives that create pathways to self-sufficiency while actualising creative power”.

Juxtaposition Arts is at 2007 N Emerson Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411

MINNESOTA AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MUSEUM & GALLERY

Civil rights attorney Tina Burnside and educator Coventry Cowens founded the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery in 2018. Having conceived and executed the museum’s existence in under a year, the pair called it a “dream come true” to have a place to celebrate the contributions made by African Americans in Minnesota.

Alongside its exhibitions, the museum also hosts workshops and educational events that speak on history, culture, and African American art in Minnesota.

Minnesota African American Heritage Museum & Gallery is at 1256 Penn Avenue North, Fourth Floor, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411. Find out more here

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK

DORSEY’S ART GALLERY

Founded in 1970 by Lawrence Peter Dorsey – a framer and art patron described as a “High Priest of the Arts” – Dorsey’s Art Gallery is the oldest, continuously active, Black owned gallery in New York City. Over the years it’s been a gathering place for various artists and collectors, including Elizabeth Catlett and Otto Neals.

Since Dorsey’s death at 88 in 2007, his legacy has lived on in the gallery and LPD Brooklyn Arts, which holds exhibitions, events, and classes there.

Doresey’s Art Gallery is at 553 Rogers Ave, Brooklyn, New York, 11225. Find out more here

ESSIE GREEN GALLERIES

Essie Green’s first opening took place back in 1979, in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and the gallery has continued to grow since moving to the Sugar Hill area of Harlem a decade later. Over the years, the gallery has featured the works of iconic Black artists and artists of colour including Romare Bearden – whom it cites as a mentor – Charles Alston, Lois Mailou Jones, and Wifredo Lam.

Essie Green Galleries is at 419A Convent Avenue, Sugar Hill, New York, 1001. Find out more here

GALLERY KENDRA JAYNE PATRICK

Kendra Jayne Patrick became embedded in the New York art scene after moving to the city on the back of attending law school. Her eponymous, multidisciplinary, and itinerant art gallery is based in New York City but takes a nomadic approach to holding exhibitions.

The gallery’s artists include Jo Shane, Kenya (Robinson), Arden Surdam, and duo Wickerham & Lomax.

Find out more here

HOUSING

Founded in 2016 and originally located in Brooklyn’s Bed Stuy, HOUSING has since moved from its permanent residence and operates as a travelling venue.

Despite the change two years ago, HOUSING is committed to showcasing the work of artists who “show critical commentary and intent”, as well as supporting the practices of those who “contour the limits of visibility, and advance the conditional inclusion of artists of colour.”

Find out more information on HOUSING here

JENKINS JOHNSON GALLERY (SAN FRANCISCO) AND JENKINS JOHNSON PROJECT SPACE (BROOKLYN)

Founded in 1996, Jenkins Johnson Gallery represents a worldwide roster of artists working across various disciplines and mediums. The gallery is owned and directed by Karen Jenkins-Johnson, and for nine years (2005 to 2014) she also operated a second space in Chelsea, NYC. However, in 2017, Karen decided to fill the gap left by its closure and open anther space in NYC, founding Jenkins Johnson Projects as a “community oriented” space which spotlights curators and artists of colour.

Jenkins Johnson Gallery is at 1275 Minnesota Street, #200, San Francisco, California, 94107. Jenkins Johnson Project Space is at 207 Ocean Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, 11225. Find out more here

JUNE KELLY GALLERY

Founded by June Kelly in New York’s SoHo district in 1987, June Kelly Gallery specialises in artworks across several media – including paintings, sculpture, and photography – representing work from a group of diverse artists at various stages in their careers. Many of the gallery’s contemporary artists are known worldwide, such as Ming Smith, the first African-American female photographer whose work was acquired by NYC’s MoMA.

June Kelly Gallery is at 166 Mercer Street, New York, 10012. Find out more here

LONG GALLERY HARLEM

Founded by Lewis Long – and where the gallery gets its name – the Long Gallery Harlem has exhibited more than 70 artists in its programming, from Renee Cox to Nona Hendryx, and many more. With an aim to celebrate underrepresented artists, its ethos is deeply rooted in “Harlem’s rich cultural tradition, strong portrait photography legacy”.

Long Gallery Harlem is at 2073 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr Blvd, New York 10027

MACKEY TWINS ART GALLERY

Founded in 2004 by Queens-born identical twins Karen and Sharon Mackey – collectors, dealers, and artist representatives – Mackey Twins Art Gallery started when the sisters bought their first artwork more than 40 years ago; a James Denmark print. In the years which have passed, the Mackey sisters have dedicated their careers to recognising and representing artists of colour.

Mackey Twins Art Gallery is at 457 East Sidney Ave, Mt Vernon, New York, 10553. Find out more here

MEDIUM TINGS

Founded by Stephanie Baptist in 2017, Medium Tings is an apartment gallery and project space which elevates contemporary artists through programming, publications, and collaborations. Its name a nod to both its size and the art exhibited, such as photography, painting, and sculpture. Whereas “Tings” pays respects to the West Indian neighbourhood in which the gallery is situated in.

Baptist’s experience within the art world – at Tiwana Contemporary in London and El Foco in the Bronx – inspired her to carve out her own corner, one which would also open opportunities for Black people in the industry.

Artists who have shown in the gallery include Arielle Bobb-Willis, Ayana Evans, Marcus Leslie, and more.

Find out more here

THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN DIASPORAN ARTS (MoCADA)

In 1999, Laurie Angela Cumbo founded MoCADA, inspired by her graduate thesis from New York University, which focussed on “the feasibility of an African diaspora museum contributing to the revitalisation of central Brooklyn economically, socially, politically, and aesthetically. Begining its life in a brownstone in Brooklyn, MoCADA has since grown into a cultural institution “that incites dialogue on pressing social and political issues facing the African diaspora”.

MoCADA is at 80 Hanson Place, Brooklyn, New York, 11217. Find out more information here

RICHARD BEAVERS GALLERY

Established in 2007, Richard Beavers Gallery is a contemporary art gallery which focussed on emerging and mid career artists whose work explores social and political issues affecting the Black community.

Richard Beavers Gallery is at 408 Marcus Garvey Blvd, Brooklyn, New York 11216

SKOTO GALLERY

Established in 1992, Skoto Gallery is one of the first galleries representing contemporary African art in New York. Since then, the gallery has widened its scope to include artists of any ethnic or cultural background, allowing African art to be engaged with a global cultural dialogue. Artists it currently represents include Ifeoma Anyaeji, Ibrahim El Salahi, and Osaretin Ighile.

Skoto Gallery is at 529 W 20th St #5FL, New York, 10011. Find out more here

THE STUDIO MUSEUM IN HARLEM

The Studio Museum of Harlem opened its doors in September 1968 after a diverse group of artists, activists, philanthropists, and local residents came together for its cause. The museum describes itself as a “nexus” for artists of the African diaspora and work inspired by Black culture. Its Director and Chief Curator, Thelma Golden, began her career there as an intern in 1987. She went onto work at other institutions such as the Whitney Museum of American Art but returned to the Studio Museum in 2000. The museum has showcased artists from David Hammons to Dozie Kanu – an extensive timeline which is available to explore.

The Studio Museum of Harlem also publishes its own magazine, Studio Museum, hosts artists in residence, and an ongoing project, “Harlem Postcards”, which offers visitors a selection of free postcards from different artists throughout the year.

The Studio Museum in Harlem is at 144 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027, United States

WE BUY GOLD

In 2017 Joeonna Bellorado-Samuels and Aryn DrakeLee-Williams founded roving art space We Buy Gold in Bed Stuy – its name both an homage to New York’s many gold-for-cash stores as well as the value artists strive for within the art world. In the three years since its inception, We Buy Gold has hosted works from Nick Cave, Solange Knowles, Sondra Perry, Jacolby Satterwhite, texas isaiah, Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Ja’Tovia Gary, and many, many more.

As well as their roles at We Buy Gold, Bellorado-Samuels is the director at Jack Shainman Gallery in Chelsea as well as For Freedoms, and Aryn DrakeLee-Williams also founded LA’s The Mistake Room.

Find out more here

SOUTHAMPTON, NEW YORK

TRIPOLI GALLERY OF CONTEMPORARY ART

Founded in 2009 by Tripoli Patterson, who, at the time, was a 24-year-old East Coast surfing champion, Tripoli Gallery of Contemporary Art Southampton offers a platform for artistic exchange for both local and international artists. For more than a decade, Patternson has used his space to showcase artists working across a variety of mediums, from sculpture to painting, installation, photography, and more.

Tripoli Gallery of Contemporary Art is at 26 Ardsley Road, Wainscott, New York, 11975. Find out more here

TULSA, OKLAHOMA

BLACK WALL STREET GALLERY

Black Wall Street Gallery uses arts, theatre, and education to build better relationships between Black and white people in Tulsa, Oklahoma – a city that still lives in the shadow of its racist history. The venue itself aims to establish long-term relational change by building an artistic community that welcomes all. It its own words: “We are here as a physical and symbolic reminder of the possibility of conciliation and social equity for our city.”

Black Wall Street Gallery is at 10 N Greenwood Ave STE B, Tulsa, OK 74120. Find out more here

PORTLAND, OREGON

ORI ART GALLERY

The brainchild of creative duo Maya Vivas and Leila Haile, Ori Gallery aims to amplify the voices of trans and queer artists of colour through community organising and rotating exhibitions. The space also offers classes and workshops to the community, including PoC figure drawing, arts for direct actions, and meet-ups for queer and trans creatives of colour. 

Ori Art Gallery is at 4038 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, Oregon, 97217. Find out more here

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

RUSH ARTS GALLERIES

Rush Arts Galleries was founded in 1995 by visual artist and community builder Danny Simmons, media mogul Russell Simmons, and Run DMC’s Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons. For 20 years, the trio’s goal has been to “fill a gap that the disenfranchised and people of colour faced in both accessing the arts and exhibition opportunities”.

Operating as both an exhibition and educational space, Rush Education focuses on providing arts programmes to young people and Rush Arts Galleries support emerging arts nationwide.

Rush Arts Galleries is at 4954 Old York Road, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19141. Find out more here

THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM IN PHILADELPHIA

Founded in 1976 by historian, educator, and author Charles H. Wesley, The African American Museum in Philadelphia aims to preserve, interpret and exhibit the heritage of African Americans from pre-colonial times to today. From family life to the Civil Rights movements, art, politics, relgion, law, and technically, the AAMP showcases the multi-facets of the Black experience in America.

The African American Museum in Philadelphia is at 701 Arch Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19106. Find out more here

THE COLOURED GIRLS MUSEUM

Self-described as a “memoir museum”, The Colored Girls Museum “honours the stories, experiences, and history of ordinary Colored Girls”.

The Colored Girls Museum is at 4613 Newhall Street, Philadelphia, 19144. Find out more here

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

GALLERY CHUMA

Managed by Chuma Nwokike, Charleston’s Gallery Chuma celebrates the art and culture of the Gullah people, the descendants of enslaved Africans who lived, and still live, in small farming and fishing communities on the south Atlantic coast, a culture also preserved at Sabree’s Gallery of the Arts in Savannah, Georgia. 

Gallery Chuma’s artists include Jonathan Green and Carol Simmons, though Nwokike also offers hats crafted by his sister.

Gallery Chuma is at 188 Meeting Street, #N1, Charleston, South Carolina, 29401. Find out more here

JONATHAN GREEN STUDIOS

Painter Jonathan Green’s namesake studio exhibits not only his work but artists “whose work reflects the themes of work, love, belonging, and one’s relationship to the environment”. He is focussed on highlighting artists of African American, Caribbean, and Latin American descent.

Jonathan Green Studios is (by appointment only) at 87 B Hasell Street, Charleston, South Carolina, 29401. Find out more here

NEEMA FINE ART GALLERY

Founded by artist Meisha Johnson, Neema Fine Art Gallery showcases both art and jewellery from south African-American artists. “Neema” meaning “favour, grace, and prosperity” in Swahili, is one of the few African-American owned galleries in its town, Neema also offers art classes for kids as well as supper clubs and support for new artists.

Neema Fine Art Gallery is at 3 Broad Street, Suite 100, Charleston, South Carolina, 29401

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

ART VILLAGE GALLERY

Founded in 1998, Art Village Gallery is a contemporary fine art gallery located in downtown Memphis that supports emerging and established artists from Africa and its diaspora. With three exhibition spaces, the gallery hosts a number of talks, lectures, exhibition dinners, literary, and performing art events. The gallery also houses a permanent collection of art by its founder, Ephraim Urevbu.

Art Village Gallery is at 410 S Main St, Memphis, Tennesse, 38103. Find out more here

PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA

WALTON GALLERY

In 1992, Eric Walton arrived in Petersburg from Brooklyn and never looked back. In 2012, he founded Walton Gallery, partly inspired by his own artist father, Ronald J. Walton. Since its inception, Walton Gallery has exhibited both regional and national artists such as LeRoy Henderson, Murray DePillars, and Carren Clarke-McAdoo. A family affair, Ronald’s work have also exhibited and Eric’s mother sells her jewellery too.

Walton Gallery is at 17 N. Sycamore Street, Petersburg, Virginia, 23803

WASHINGTON DC

11:ELEVEN GALLERY

Founded by curator Nicola Charles, Washington-based 11:Eleven gallery specialises in UK contemporary and urban art by underrepresented artists. The space also holds visits and talks to encourage young people to engage in the arts. 

11:Eleven Gallery is at 10 Florida Ave NW Washington DC, 20001. Find out more here

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

MARTYR SAUCE

Founded in 2013 by artist and curator Tariqa Waters, Martyr Sauce is “committed to keeping the weirdos in the city”. The intersection of art and community, Martyr Sauce is an underground staple of the the city of Seattle.

Find out more here

This article originally, but mistakenly, included Kalashnikovv Gallery. It has now been removed