Art Center x Kwame Brathwaite Archive: Kwame Brathwaite: Things Well Worth Waiting For
Art Center, Art Center College of Design, March 28, 2024
The latest solo exhibition on Kwame Brathwaite (1938-2023) showcases his pioneering work as a photographer, artist, and community leader, emphasizing his deep connection to music. Beginning his career in the jazz clubs of the Bronx in the mid-1950s, Brathwaite captured the essence of the civil rights, Black Arts, and Black Power movements through his lens. The exhibition is organized around his work in music, fashion, and community, featuring iconic figures like Miles Davis and Marvin Gaye. It highlights the "Black is Beautiful" movement initiated by the Grandassa Models in 1962, which redefined beauty standards with African-inspired fashion. Curated by Grace Deveney, the exhibition includes a projection of Brathwaite’s images and a curated jazz soundtrack by Swizz Beatz. Supported by the Art Institute of Chicago and other institutions, this exhibition reintroduces Brathwaite's work, underscoring its enduring cultural relevance. Explore the legacy of Brathwaite's vision and its impact on contemporary culture.