Detroit City Wire

The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) has announced the opening of its newly reimagined African American art galleries in October 2025. This reinstallation will relocate select works from the DIA’s African American art collection to a central location within the museum, adjacent to the Diego Rivera murals at Rivera Court. The aim is to make these works more visible and accessible to visitors.

DIA Director Salvador Salort-Pons remarked, “Benefiting from the highest level of curatorial expertise, The Detroit Institute of Arts is one of the first museums in the world to build and show an extraordinary collection of African American art in dedicated galleries.” He added that this installation will allow visitors to experience African American art history from the early 1800s to the 1980s like never before.

The new galleries will move from their previous location in the North Wing on the second floor to four gallery rooms next to Rivera Court. They will feature 50 works, including paintings, sculptures, prints, photography, and furniture, spanning from 1840-1986. This relocation aims to enhance visitor experience by showcasing themes related to historic events and connections to Detroit.

The project is organized by the DIA’s Center for African American Art, established in 2000 as a pioneering department devoted exclusively to this genre at a major museum. The center remains committed to raising awareness about African American contributions to arts and culture. The DIA's collection includes around 700 works by artists such as Robert Seldon Duncanson, Richmond Barthe, Elizabeth Catlett, Edward Clark, and Mavis Pusey.

Valerie Mercer, Curator & Head of the Center for African American Art at DIA stated, “Our African American art collection represents some of the most powerful and transformative works in American art history.” She emphasized that the new gallery design would better tell the story of African American art across time periods.

This redesign marks the first phase of a broader transformation planned for completion in 2026. Further details about programming and events related to the grand opening will be announced closer to October 2025. More information can be found on dia.org/events/exhibitions/reimagining-african-american-art.