Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power

February 3 – April 23, 2018

Vibrant painting of individuals with drums, dancing, and lively text promoting freedom and expression. — Carolyn Lawrence, *Black Children Keep Your Spirits Free*, 1972, acrylic on canvas, 49 × 51 × 2 in. Collection and copyright Carolyn Mims Lawrence. Image courtesy of the artist.

Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power shines a bright light on the vital contribution of Black artists to an important period in American history and art. Featuring the work of 60 artists and including vibrant paintings, powerful sculptures, street photography, murals, and more, this landmark exhibition is a rare opportunity to see era-defining artworks that changed the face of art in America.

Developed by the Tate Modern in London and debuting in the US at Crystal Bridges, Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power examines the influences, including the civil rights movement, Minimalism, and abstraction, on artists such as Romare Bearden, Noah Purifoy, Martin Puryear, Faith Ringgold, Betye Saar, Alma Thomas, Charles White, and William T. Williams.

Wadsworth Jarrell, Revolutionary — Wadsworth Jarrell, *Revolutionary*, 1972, screen print on paper, 34 × 26 1/2 in. Courtesy of Lusenhop Fine Art.

Soul of a Nation exhibition trailer

Children play in a gravel area with red structures and a colorful geometric mural in the background. — Art work created by Smokehouse Associates, William T. Williams, Melvin Edwards, Guy Ciarcia and Billy Rose. Photograph by Robert Colton, New York, NY; Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery LLC, New York, NY.

Some artists, galvanized by the spirit of the civil rights movement, created images that spoke of solidarity, strength, and resistance, while others focused primarily on color, form, and concept. Some works paid homage to legendary African American figures from the period, including political leaders Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and Angela Davis, musician John Coltrane, and sports hero Jack Johnson. The variety of artworks reflects the many viewpoints of artists and collectives at work during these explosive times.

Crystal Bridges is one of only two American venues to host this important exhibition, described as both powerful, and at times, challenging. Following its debut in Bentonville, the exhibition travels to the Brooklyn Museum in New York.