Hammer Museum Presents 'SPACE IS THE PLACE' Exhibition Exploring Afro-Futurism Through Contemporary Collection

The Hammer Museum's contemporary collection forms the basis for 'SPACE IS THE PLACE,' a group exhibition exploring spatial concepts through afro-futurism, belonging, and placemaking. Nearly thirty artists contribute installations, paintings, sculptures, photographs, and multi-media works to this thematic presentation. Drawing inspiration from Sun Ra's 1973 studio album and 1974 film of the same name, the exhibition examines how space functions as both physical territory and conceptual framework. Sun Ra, the Black American experimental jazz composer known for his radical views on Black liberation, provides the intellectual foundation for this curatorial approach. The exhibition opened on October 10, 2025, at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles. Participating artists include Edgar Arceneaux and Nayland Blake, among others featured in the museum's contemporary holdings. This presentation represents a focused investigation of how contemporary artists engage with spatial politics and cultural positioning. The exhibition continues the museum's practice of creating thematic exhibitions drawn from its permanent collection.