- Texas Today: UT Events & Announcements Calendar
- ›
- Event Details
In the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s, Kwame Brathwaite (born Brooklyn, New York, 1938) used photography to popularize the political slogan “Black Is Beautiful.” This exhibition—the first ever dedicated to Brathwaite’s remarkable career—tells the story of a key figure of the second Harlem Renaissance. Inspired by the writings of activist and Black nationalist Marcus Garvey, Brathwaite, along with his older brother, Elombe Brath, founded the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS) and the Grandassa Models. AJASS was a collective of artists, playwrights, designers, and dancers. Grandassa Models—the subject of much of this show’s contents—was a modeling agency for Black women, founded to challenge white beauty standards. From stunning studio portraits to behind-the-scenes images of Harlem’s artistic community, including Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln, this exhibition at the Blanton Museum of Art offers a long-overdue exploration of Brathwaite’s life and work.
Sunday, September 19, 2021
Blanton Museum of Art (BMA)
200 MARTIN LUTHER KING BLVD E, Austin, Texas 78705
Free for UT ID holders; reservation required
Yes
No recent activity