DETROIT, Mich. – The Detroit Institute of Arts has permanently relocated its African American art galleries to a prominent space across from the Diego Rivera Court.
This move highlights the historical connection between some African American artists and Rivera, who traveled with him to Mexico.
The museum began collecting African American art in 1943 and established the Center for African American Art in 2000, appointing its first dedicated curator in 2001.
Valerie Mercer, the current curator, expressed her desire to display the art in chronological order to illustrate its place in American art history.
“They’ve often been left out,” Mercer said. Her experience at the Studio Museum in Harlem has influenced her selections for the DIA, aiming to fill gaps in the collection.
The galleries feature artists like Robert S. Duncanson, a self-taught pioneer who overcame barriers due to slavery.
This reinstallation marks the first in nearly two decades, with four dedicated galleries exploring key historical movements in African American art.
Mercer hopes visitors will appreciate the historical development and begin telling a more inclusive story of American art.
