Mildred Howard's first major museum retrospective opens at OMCA

The Oakland Museum of California is gearing up to present 'Mildred Howard: Poetics of Memory,' which will be the first comprehensive look at the artist's remarkable 50-year career. This exhibition kicks off on June 12 and runs until October 18, 2026. It features over 100 works, including notable installations like 'Locks and Keys for Harry Bridges' from 2001 and 'Blackbird in a Red Sky (AKA Fall of the Blood House)' from 2005, along with personal items like her high school yearbook and a chair from her childhood art classes. Born in San Francisco in 1945, Howard often delves into themes of race and social justice. In 2023, she received honorary doctorates, and her archive was acquired by UC Berkeley's Bancroft Library. Curator Carin Adams highlights the exhibition's aim to connect Howard's life experiences with her art, showcasing her family's activism, especially her mother Mable's role in advocating for BART tracks in Berkeley. Howard's West Oakland home and studio is a 15,000 sq ft warehouse that combines her living space with her art, featuring pieces like 'Kiss the Cake' displayed on her dining table.