Detroit City Wire

The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) has announced that its newly reimagined African American art galleries will open to the public in October 2025. The updated galleries will be relocated from their previous space in the North Wing on the museum’s second floor to four rooms in the central corridor next to Rivera Court, home to Diego Rivera’s murals. This move aims to make selected works from the DIA’s African American art collection more visible and accessible.

“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,” said DIA Director Salvador Salort-Pons. “With this groundbreaking installation located in the galleries adjacent to Rivera Court, the heart of the DIA’s art experience, our visitors will be immersed in the history of African American Art from the early 1800s to 1980s like they never have seen before.”

The new installation will display 50 works spanning paintings, sculpture, prints, photography, and furniture by a range of artists from 1840 through 1986. The expanded location is intended to deepen visitor engagement and provide greater opportunities for exploring themes such as historic events, connections to contemporary times, and ties to Detroit.

The reinstallation is organized by the Center for African American Art at DIA. Established in 2000, it was the first curatorial department at a major fine arts or encyclopedic museum devoted exclusively to African American art. The center oversees a collection that includes about 700 works by artists such as Robert Seldon Duncanson, Richmond Barthe, Elizabeth Catlett, Edward Clark, and Mavis Pusey.

“Our African American art collection represents some of the most powerful and transformative works in American art history,” said Valerie Mercer, Curator & Head, Center for African American Art at the DIA. “The new gallery design allows us to better tell the story of African American art and present these works in conversation with each other across time periods, creating a richer context for understanding their significance. We will also be able to display and elevate works from our collection and present them in ways that highlight their artistic innovation and cultural impact.”

This project marks the initial phase of a broader renovation plan for DIA’s second floor North Wing that will also include updates to Modern and Contemporary sections. The full transformation is scheduled for completion in 2026.

Further details regarding programming around the opening will be released ahead of October 2025. Additional information about exhibitions and events related to this reinstallation can be found at https://dia.org/events/exhibitions/reimagine-african-american-art.