The International African American Museum (IAAM) is excited to announce its upcoming special exhibition, re/Defined: Creative Expressions of Blackness from the Diaspora, opening to the public on June 12, 2025, with a special public program, and running through January 4, 2026. Co-curated by IAAM staff members Suzanne DiBella and Isabelle Britto, this thought-provoking exhibition explores the multifaceted ways Black creatives across the Atlantic World have shaped, challenged, and celebrated Black identity.
In a joint statement, DiBella, who serves as IAAM’s registrar, and Britto, who serves as IAAM’s associate curator, said, “Creativity is shaped by both roots and routes—by where we come from and where we journey. This exhibition showcases how Black artists across the Atlantic World draw on shared African ancestry to define and redefine what Blackness means through their creative expressions. Their work highlights the connections they continue to build across nations, cultures, and generations.”
“re/Defined" delves into how artists from the United States and the broader African Diaspora have continually redefined what it means to be Black. From West Africa and Europe to the Americas, Black creatives have leveraged visual art, adornment, music, and storytelling to preserve African traditions, resist systemic oppression, and activate audiences. The exhibition highlights their pivotal role in shaping cultural narratives and advocating for their communities.
The African Diaspora, forged through the Transatlantic slave trade and subsequent migrations, has been a dynamic force in the global exchange of cultural traditions, ideas, and aesthetics. Throughout this vast network, Black artists have steadfastly resisted assimilation. They have masterfully preserved African cultures, transforming traditional West African creative expressions into new, evolving representations of culture that resonate across continents.
Moreover, artistic expression has provided a vital platform for Black creatives to occupy space and confront the legacies of colonialism and slavery, including pervasive racism. Artists have actively reclaimed and countered racialized portrayals of Blackness, developing new imagery that champions racial pride and expands the representation of Black people in powerful and authentic ways.
Through these diverse creative expressions, “re/Defined” illuminates the interconnectedness of Black culture across the Diaspora, showcasing how African art, music, and style echo and continuously evolve through exchange.
Join us on Thursday, June 12, from 6:00PM to 8:30PM: "Blackness re/Defined: An Evening of Art and Conversation"
Join IAAM for an evening of thought-provoking dialogue and dynamic creative expression as we celebrate the opening of our newest special exhibition. This program will explore the ways Black artists and cultural producers have shaped narratives of identity, resisted systemic erasure, and redefined Blackness through art, music, and movement. Through conversation and performance, we will examine how creative expression functions as both a reflection of lived experience and an assertion of agency across the African Diaspora. [REGISTER FOR THE EVENT FOR FREE!]
For all the latest news and updates on “re/Defined,” please visit our website at iaamuseum.org/special-