December 17, 2025
By Kathy Chouteau
The Richmond Art Center (RAC) is marking its 90th year with Winter Exhibitions that celebrate the creativity of its artist community Jan. 21 through March 14, 2026.
An opening reception Saturday, Jan. 24, from 1-3 p.m. is offering views of the Winter Exhibitions’ Art of the African Diaspora, weaving educator dani lopez’ “3 Dykes Walk into a Bar…,” and “Spotlight on the Ceramics Studio.”
“We are excited to kick off our 90th anniversary year with exhibitions and programs that celebrate our commitment to diversity and celebrate the vibrant artistic spirit of our community,” said the RAC’s Interim Executive Director Jeff Nathanson.
Artists of African descent take center stage in the RAC’s Main and West Galleries as part of Art of the African Diaspora’s 29th year. More than 150 local Black artists will be featured in the Main Gallery in the “Bay Area’s largest non-juried exhibition of its kind,” according to the center. Over in the West Gallery, the works of Ashlie Kègo, Paradise and Max Wheaton will be featured, all of whom are Artistic Achievement awardees.
“In 2026, Art of the African Diaspora will feature over 160 artists, including 28 participating for the first time. In addition to the main exhibition at Richmond Art Center, there will be many satellite exhibitions across the Bay Area…,” said artist and Chair of the Steering Committee that organizes Art of the African Diaspora Stephen Bruce.
He added that there will be six Art of the African Diaspora satellite exhibitions in Richmond, including five in Point Richmond and one at [The] Factory Bar. Another larger satellite exhibition in the East Bay, the Newcomers Show, will feature 48 artists at the former Joyce Gordon Gallery in Oakland.
“This program has been running for nearly 30 years,” said Bruce. “Its success lies in the vital opportunities it offers artists: increased visibility, a focus on community art, and the opportunities for growth and recognition of artists within our community.”
The Art of the African Diaspora Artistic Achievement Awardee Talk will take place Saturday, Jan. 24 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
A Public Art in Our Communities Panel Discussion will take place Saturday, Feb. 21, from noon to 1:30 p.m. as part of the Art of the African Diaspora exhibition. Public Art Administrator Denise Pate will discuss the power and process of public art with artists Kristine Mays, James Moore and Malik Seneferu. A Closing Reception for this exhibition will be held Sunday, March 15 from 2-4 p.m.
Over in the South Gallery, dani lopez’ 3 Dykes Walk into a Bar… will feature tapestry stills following three young dykes coming of age spanning from the 1990s to present day. “These woven visual excerpts from the characters’ lives create an intimate space where fragments of queer memory, identity and joy come together,” said the RAC about the solo exhibition.
Lopez and Elena Gross will take part in an Artist Talk Saturday, February 28, from 2-3 p.m. Starting January 8, Lopez will teach the class Line by Line: Introduction to Tapestry Weaving at the RAC.
The RAC’s final Winter Exhibition, Spotlight on the Ceramics Studio, will highlight the creative talent of 27 students “whose hands-on work in the studio results in a lively collection of sculptural and functional ceramics,” said the RAC. The Artistic Achievement Awards will be announced by John Toki at the opening reception.
Find the Richmond Art Center at 2540 Barrett Ave. in Richmond.
