The Lens

Isaac Julien’s Lessons of the Hour, a key work in Revival, is a poetic meditation on Frederick Douglass’ life informed by some of the abolitionist’s most important speeches, such as “Lessons of the Hour,” “What to the Slave Is the 4th of July?,” and “Lecture on Pictures.” Douglass, the most photographed man of the 19th century, believed in the power of art and technology to shape lives and society. The still image of Douglass, his wife Anna Murray Douglass, and the noted African-American photographer J.P. Ball, Serenade, attests to the importance of the role of representation, in both politics and aesthetics,... Continue reading Revival: Digging Into Yesterday, Planting Tomorrow

In Pursuit of Empathy invites sixteen lens-based and mixed-media artists to explore their perceptions of empathy and how their work captures true human connection. This group exhibition features a collection of documentary, narrative, abstract, and conceptual lens-based imagery combined with music.

Artists: Jymi Bolden, Ben Britton, Stacey Dolen, Dorothy Feldis, Tim Harrier, Dee Henry, Jane Hobson, Dave Kempton, Deogracias Lerma, Larry Pytlinski, Mary Barr Rhodes, Craig Rouse, Ann Segal, Brad Smith, Sue Wilke, J. Miles Wolf

From cornrows to locs, Black hair is rooted in identity and culture. Within a specific part of history, hair could indicate a person’s tribe, social position, marital status, or occupation. Later, hairstyles told stories of bravery by creating pathways to freedom, using patterns and techniques to relay messages and routes in order to escape in the face of inconceivable duress. Through her work, artist Amber N. Ford explores the importance that hair holds culturally and personally.

This project began as a form of preservation, documenting deconstructed and revised protective hairstyles to remember what was... Continue reading Amber N. Ford: The Roads Most Traveled

Curated by students at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, Deeply Rooted highlights artists Vikesh Kapoor, Tomiko Jones, and André Ramos-Woodard, telling multi-generational stories of traditions. In the exhibition, memory is explored through cultural and familial experiences from different perspectives. Intergenerational aspects of intimate spaces, objects, and portraiture are showcased in vernacular, film, and digital photography.Kapoor is invited to serve as guest judge for the Art Academy’s Chidlaw Gallery show, Student Reflections, which will present selected artwork by AAC students.

Artists: Vikesh Kapoor, Tomiko Jones, André Ramos-WoodardStudent Curators: Noctis Bailey, Dominique Catron, Meg Elizabeth Evans, Jaila Felts, Kamaire R. Jones,... Continue reading Deeply Rooted

Inhabited: Stories of the Past is a photo-based mural weaving together the narratives of people and place, using a building as its canvas and inspiration. This mural seamlessly integrates archival and contemporary images, capturing the essence of individuals connected to the building's rich history. The fusion of artist-captured perspectives, archival photographs, and community submissions within the mural creates a compelling visual narrative that transcends time, unveiling often-overlooked facets of history. Collected stories from submitted photographs enrich the project, adding layers of depth and context.

Lead artist, Erika NJ Allen, believes the mural is more... Continue reading Inhabited: Stories of the Past