Roll Call: Black American Art in Birmingham

0:00The Birmingham Museum of Art is gearing up to showcase its powerhouse Black American art collection this September. The exhibit, titled Roll Call, 200 Years of Black American Art, pulls 99 pieces from their permanent holdings to Spotlight 2, Centuries of Creativity by Black Artist. Since 1971, the museum has built one of the biggest collections in the country, grabbing over 1,000 works from 200, 50 Black Artists. Though displayed in four key sections, one on foundational buys, another on community push for change, a third diving and a personal freedoms through. Art styles from realistic to abstract, and the last tying Alabama roots to bigger national stories. This rollout hits right on the museum's 75th anniversary, marking how curators, artists, and locals have shaped what you see inside. It's a nod to those early moves that built the collection and the ongoing hustle to keep evolving. Leaders there say it shows the brilliance of Blackmakers and how advocacy expands museum narratives.

1:03Fresh Spotlights include sculptures from everyday junk, dreaming landscapes, and quilts packed with proverbs. As Roll Call runs from September 26, 2026 through January 17, 2027, it reminds us art history is still being written brick by brick right in Birmingham's heart. Stay informed with Birmingham News Today, AI-powered updates.