Uploaded September 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This event occurred on September 9, 2021.
What is "Black art"? Between 1960 and 1980, artists, curators and critics in the United States repeatedly asked this question in response to the social and political upheavals embodied by radical voices such as Malcolm X and the Black Panthers. Their diverse perspectives were published in national newspapers, museum catalogs, and one-off pamphlets, prompting a lively public debate.
“The Soul of a Nation Reader” collects over 200 of these rare and out-of-print writings, offering a powerful record of the positions taken by figures including Amiri Baraka, Frank Bowling, David Hammons, Elizabeth Catlett, and Linda Goode-Bryant. In this conversation with moderator LeRonn P. Brooks, the book's editors Mark Godfrey and Allie Biswas discuss various dimensions of this cultural dialogue, while highlighting specific texts. Six years in the making, this landmark anthology provides access to these important materials for the first time.
Speakers
Allie Biswas is a writer and researcher based in London. She has published on artists including Wolfgang Tillmans, Julie Mehretu, Adam Pendleton, Rashid Johnson, Rina Banerjee, Meleko Mokgosi and Zanele Muholi. Recent projects include a catalogue about the U.S. Embassy's art collection in London and an essay on Arcmanoro Niles.
Dr. Mark Godfrey is a curator and art historian based in London. In 2017, he co-curated, with Zoe Whitley, “Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power.” Forthcoming shows include Anicka Yi at Tate Modern and Jacqueline Humphries at the Wexner. Forthcoming publications include essays on Kevin Beasley and Firelei Baez.
LeRonn P. Brooks is associate curator for Modern and Contemporary Collections at the Getty Research Institute. He has recently published in BOMB Magazine, Callaloo, and International Review of African American Art, and on behalf of organizations such as the Studio Museum, Socrates Sculpture Park, Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, and Aperture Foundation.
This program is part of the Art History in the Making series at the Getty Research Institute, which brings artists, critics, curators, and scholars together to explore how both the creative practice of art-making and new discoveries in art history are provoking new questions and redefining the frontiers of the field.
Learn more about this event: https://www.getty.edu/visit/cal/events/ev_3339.html
The Getty Research Institute is dedicated to furthering knowledge and advancing understanding of the visual arts and their various histories through its expertise, active collecting program, public programs, institutional collaborations, exhibitions, publications, digital services, and residential scholars programs. Its library and special collections of rare materials and digital resources serve an international community of scholars and the interested public. The Research Institute's activities and scholarly resources guide and sustain each other and together provide a unique environment for research, critical inquiry, and scholarly exchange.
Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/research/
Getty is a world-renowned cultural and philanthropic organization that shares and advances the world’s visual art and cultural heritage. Collectively and individually, our programs pursue our mission in Los Angeles and throughout the world. Our engagement in culture, arts, and philanthropy is achieved through our constituent programs: the Getty Conservation Institute, Getty Foundation, Getty Museum, Getty Research Institute, and Getty Trust.
The Getty Conservation Institute works internationally to preserve culture and advance the practice of art conservation. Our work is driven by the values of excellence, innovation, leadership, collaboration, and service. Current projects include post-doctoral fellowships in conservation science.
The Getty Foundation is responsible for funding research and preservation of visual arts projects. The Foundation partners with people and organizations throughout Los Angeles. We award grants to support art historical scholarship, conserve art and architecture, increase access to museum collections and archives, and train visual arts professionals.
The Getty Museum fosters the enjoyment and understanding of art through events, exhibitions, and education. Visit the Getty Center and the Getty Villa Museum to explore exhibitions featuring art by Leonardo da Vinci, medieval artists, and others. Admission is free! Visit Getty’s website for tickets.
Getty: https://www.getty.edu/
Getty Conservation Institute: https://www.getty.edu/conservation/
Getty Foundation: https://www.getty.edu/foundation/
Getty Museum: https://www.getty.edu/museum/
Getty Villa Museum: https://www.getty.edu/visit/villa/
Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/research/
This event occurred on September 9, 2021.
What is "Black art"? Between 1960 and 1980, artists, curators and critics in the United States repeatedly asked this question in response to the social and political upheavals embodied by radical voices such as Malcolm X and the Black Panthers. Their diverse perspectives were published in national newspapers, museum catalogs, and one-off pamphlets, prompting a lively public debate.
“The Soul of a Nation Reader” collects over 200 of these rare and out-of-print writings, offering a powerful record of the positions taken by figures including Amiri Baraka, Frank Bowling, David Hammons, Elizabeth Catlett, and Linda Goode-Bryant. In this conversation with moderator LeRonn P. Brooks, the book's editors Mark Godfrey and Allie Biswas discuss various dimensions of this cultural dialogue, while highlighting specific texts. Six years in the making, this landmark anthology provides access to these important materials for the first time.
Speakers
Allie Biswas is a writer and researcher based in London. She has published on artists including Wolfgang Tillmans, Julie Mehretu, Adam Pendleton, Rashid Johnson, Rina Banerjee, Meleko Mokgosi and Zanele Muholi. Recent projects include a catalogue about the U.S. Embassy's art collection in London and an essay on Arcmanoro Niles.
Dr. Mark Godfrey is a curator and art historian based in London. In 2017, he co-curated, with Zoe Whitley, “Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power.” Forthcoming shows include Anicka Yi at Tate Modern and Jacqueline Humphries at the Wexner. Forthcoming publications include essays on Kevin Beasley and Firelei Baez.
LeRonn P. Brooks is associate curator for Modern and Contemporary Collections at the Getty Research Institute. He has recently published in BOMB Magazine, Callaloo, and International Review of African American Art, and on behalf of organizations such as the Studio Museum, Socrates Sculpture Park, Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, and Aperture Foundation.
This program is part of the Art History in the Making series at the Getty Research Institute, which brings artists, critics, curators, and scholars together to explore how both the creative practice of art-making and new discoveries in art history are provoking new questions and redefining the frontiers of the field.
Learn more about this event: https://www.getty.edu/visit/cal/events/ev_3339.html
The Getty Research Institute is dedicated to furthering knowledge and advancing understanding of the visual arts and their various histories through its expertise, active collecting program, public programs, institutional collaborations, exhibitions, publications, digital services, and residential scholars programs. Its library and special collections of rare materials and digital resources serve an international community of scholars and the interested public. The Research Institute's activities and scholarly resources guide and sustain each other and together provide a unique environment for research, critical inquiry, and scholarly exchange.
Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/research/
Getty is a world-renowned cultural and philanthropic organization that shares and advances the world’s visual art and cultural heritage. Collectively and individually, our programs pursue our mission in Los Angeles and throughout the world. Our engagement in culture, arts, and philanthropy is achieved through our constituent programs: the Getty Conservation Institute, Getty Foundation, Getty Museum, Getty Research Institute, and Getty Trust.
The Getty Conservation Institute works internationally to preserve culture and advance the practice of art conservation. Our work is driven by the values of excellence, innovation, leadership, collaboration, and service. Current projects include post-doctoral fellowships in conservation science.
The Getty Foundation is responsible for funding research and preservation of visual arts projects. The Foundation partners with people and organizations throughout Los Angeles. We award grants to support art historical scholarship, conserve art and architecture, increase access to museum collections and archives, and train visual arts professionals.
The Getty Museum fosters the enjoyment and understanding of art through events, exhibitions, and education. Visit the Getty Center and the Getty Villa Museum to explore exhibitions featuring art by Leonardo da Vinci, medieval artists, and others. Admission is free! Visit Getty’s website for tickets.
Getty: https://www.getty.edu/
Getty Conservation Institute: https://www.getty.edu/conservation/
Getty Foundation: https://www.getty.edu/foundation/
Getty Museum: https://www.getty.edu/museum/
Getty Villa Museum: https://www.getty.edu/visit/villa/
Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/research/
