Anyone wanting a meaningful way to celebrate Black History Month should head over to the Richmond Art Center (RAC) to view its “Art of the African Diaspora” exhibit now through March 14.
The exhibit, located in the RAC’s Main and West Galleries, is marking its 29th year and features the works of more than 150 black artists from throughout Bay Area. Take a deep dive by checking out “Art of the African Diaspora: Public Art in Our Communities, A Conversation with Kristine Mays, James Moore, Malik Seneferu, Denise Pate and Flo Wiley,” Saturday, Feb. 21 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the RAC.
“Art of the African Diaspora is a wonderful reflection of a vibrant artist community. It really is a show by artists, for artists,” said RAC Community Engagement Manager Amy Spencer. “Richmond Art Center is the host, but the exhibition is driven by a committee of participating artists who make the artistic decisions and do the outreach to connect as many artists as possible to this opportunity.”
In the RAC’s West Gallery, the works of Ashlie Kègo, Paradise and Max Wheaton—the exhibition’s Artistic Achievement awardees—are currently on display. The trio offer an interesting commentary on the exhibition as a whole, representing an eclectic mix of emerging and seasoned artists offering different points of view, but with one common thread of being members of the black community.
Kègo is a Nigerian-American artist and educator, according to the RAC, who draws from her heritage and personal experiences for her paintings. According to the RAC, her work reflects a deep commitment to representation and cultural storytelling, welcoming viewers to see themselves within her vibrant geometric compositions. A portion of the sales of her work benefit causes meaningful to her, such as Sickle Cell 101. Find her striking, bright and bold Afrikani-evocative artwork in the vicinity of the RAC’s main entrance.
Lord Paradise Freejalove Supreme—or simply, Paradise—is an artist, poet musician and king hailing from Oakland, where he was honored with his own day, Oct. 6 “Paradise Day,” due to his numerous years of community service in the arts, according to the RAC. He has lived a multifaceted life and is currently establishing a Bay Area Black Hall of Fame. Paradise told the RAC he believes, “We are all artists and works of art…in progress…,” and he advocates using our own universes of beautiful art to help manifest paradise on Earth. The artist employs the use of eye-catching, three dimensional mixed media that sparkle and pop from the canvas; find his work in the West Gallery.
Max Wheaton’s art has crossed the boundaries of mediums to include ceramics, paintings, prints and mixed media sculptures since joining NIAD Art Center in 2024, according to the RAC. More recently, his work find him drawing inspiration from Egyptian, Irish, Scottish and Welsh mythology, noting that he’s currently contemplating the themes of war and peace. Telling the RAC that he “puts a little bit of himself in every piece I make,” Wheaton notes he has mixed heritage, so he is “open and able to see the things that we have in common.” Check out Wheaton’s eclectic body of work in the West Gallery.
“One of the great things about Art of the African Diaspora is that there isn’t a single curatorial or artistic point of view,” Spencer told the Standard. “Walking into a gallery with 150 artworks hung salon-style can feel a little overwhelming at first, but it’s really an opportunity to take the art at face value. Slow down, wander, and see which pieces speak to you.”
Below, find photos of other artists’ works that jumped off the wall for this reporter. Be sure to pick up an Art of the African Diaspora program in the Main or West Galleries to learn more about the RAC’s Artistic Achievement awardees and other exhibiters. Click here for more details about Art of the African Diaspora’s satellite exhibitions.
Find the RAC at 2540 Barrett Avenue in Richmond. Admission is free and gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
