Smithsonian Exhibition Highlights LGBTQ+ Voices in African Art History

The exhibition 'Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art' is currently on display at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art until August 23, 2026. Curated by Kevin D. Dumouchelle in collaboration with co-curator Serubiri Moses, the show presents nearly 60 works across various media, including photography, painting, video, and installation. The project emerged from extensive dialogue with LGBTQ+ artists across Africa and its diaspora, focusing on self-representation, community, and historical continuity. Key themes include joy, resistance, kinship, and the assertion of queer presence within African art history. The exhibition features contemporary artists such as Tobi Onabolu, Dada Khanyisa, and Ṣọlá Olúlòde, alongside historical figures like photographers Kewpie and Rotimi Fani-Kayode. Dumouchelle emphasizes that the exhibition challenges narratives that exclude queer identities from African cultural history, aiming to demonstrate that these voices have always been part of the continent's artistic legacy. The curatorial process prioritized artist agency, ensuring participants were comfortable with their inclusion and representation. Institutional goals include catalyzing broader conversations about representation and expanding the canon of African and diasporic art.