"30 Americans" Coming to the Arlington Museum of Art This Summer

The acclaimed exhibition 30 Americans, a showcase of works by 30 emerging and established African American artists, is coming to Downtown Arlington this summer. 

The Arlington Museum of Art, one of Downtown's long-standing cultural arts institutions, announced recently that 30 Americans will be traveling to North Texas from its curatorial home at the renowned Rubell Museum in Miami, Florida. This will be the second exhibition loaned to the AMA in partnership with the Rubell, the first being Keith Haring: Against All Odds, one of the most successful exhibits in AMA’s history.

“The second collaboration with the Rubell Museum solidifies our relationship and allows us to bring important art to the North Texas region," said AMA Board President Dr. Chris Hightower. "The exhibit will push the limits of our space. Returning visitors will be surprised by the scale and scope of the exhibit as we introduce them to new galleries. Including a variety of styles and a broad array of visual art, 30 Americans truly includes something for everyone.”

Curated by the Rubell Museum, the exhibit includes works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Mickalene Thomas, Kara Walker, Carrie Mae Weems, and Kehinde Wiley. The exhibition features works from a variety of mediums including painting, sculpture, photography, video, and installation. While some works probe the notion of racial and social difference in a candid manner, others evoke universal concepts and emotions using a sophisticated blend of visual beauty, humor, and irony.

“This is an important exhibit that will undoubtedly spark conversation about race in America," said Tonya Veasey, 30 Americans Committee Chair and CEO for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. "It comes at a time when race and social justice issues are at the top of people's minds on a day-to-day basis. We are proud to present this profound exhibit that highlights the most important African-American artists since 1990.”

Mera Rubell of the Rubell Museum states that “30 Americans is a celebration of the artists we collected over a 30 year period, and their work never stops addressing the common humanity in all of us. The Keith Haring exhibition was the first of our collaborations with the Arlington Museum of Art and now we are excited to continue with 30 Americans."