The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History presents Luminosity: A Detroit Arts Gathering, a year-long exhibition marking its 60th anniversary. Featuring over 60 original works by local artists alongside pieces from the museum’s archives, Luminosity fosters a dialogue between Detroit’s most visionary creatives, contemporary voices, and the rich artistic traditions that continue to inspire them.
To curate the exhibition, the museum tapped Vera Ingrid Grant, an independent curator and scholar specializing in African and African American art, as well as issues of race and social justice in contemporary art. Based in Ann Arbor, MI, Grant has built an extensive record of national and international exhibitions. She previously served as Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs at the University of Michigan Museum of Art (2018-19) and was the founding director of the Ethelbert Cooper Gallery of African & African American Art at Harvard University’s Hutchins Center. While working to assemble the exhibit with The Wright’s staff and Jennifer Evans, the museum’s Senior Director of Exhibitions & Collections, Grant expressed her enthusiasm for the diverse and vibrant talent of Detroit’s local artists. She was particularly excited about the staging of new works in conversation with the museum’s historic collection.
Luminosity expands across two of the museum’s galleries and features a dynamic mix of figurative and abstract paintings, sculpture, assemblages, printmaking, and photography. Selected works may celebrate family and Detroit moments, convey personal musings and emotions, and reimagine history. The installation contrasts works from departed masters in The Wright’s collection, such as Al Loving, with contemporary figures like Ghanaian-born Detroit artist Conrad Egyir. The show also brings luminaries like Hughie Lee Smith into dialogue with constructed works by Austen Brantley, Bakpak Durden, and pyrography artist Terrell Anglin. In addition to spotlighting Detroit-based talent, Luminosity also welcomes home some of the city’s relocated sons and daughters – including Michael Kelly Williams and Garry Grant.
Grant emphasized some of the narratives unfolding across the two galleries, how the light in each room would play an integral role in storytelling, and the importance of constructing meaningful dialogue between contemporary voices and the artistic traditions that have shaped the African American creative landscape. Through this exhibition, we are all provided an intensely hued window from which to contemplate the past and present, and to imagine a future. The galleries are full to the brim with color, texture, intention, and critical information about our experiences as Blacks and Americans. We have an entire year to take it all in.
Opening to the public Saturday, April 5, 2025, The Wright invites audiences to experience “a panorama of creativity” further featuring McArthur Binion, Tylonn Sawyer, Sydney James, Elonte Davis, Ricky Weaver, Oshun Williams, Jamea Richmond Edwards, Keto Jones, Geno Harris, Faye Heading, Chase Dearring, Dawud Shabazz and many more established, emerging, and legendary artists. The exhibition opens with a reception on Friday, April 4, 2025 and extends through 2026. Visit thewrightmuseum.org to plan a visit.
