GAINESVILLE, FLA.- The Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida will display art from Spelman College—a historically black liberal arts college for women located in Atlanta, Georgia. The Harn is one of five venues across the United States exhibiting Silver Linings: Celebrating the Spelman Art Collection. Through 39 works by nearly 30 artists, Silver Linings uplifts the legacy of artists of African descent spanning the 20th century through the contemporary moment, many of whom have been overlooked by mainstream art museums. The exhibition will be on view from Feb. 4 to July 6, 2025.
“Thanks to generous support provided by Art Bridges, the Harn is pleased to kick off its 35th Anniversary Year with Silver Linings,” said Dr. Lee Anne Chesterfield, Harn Museum of Art Director. “The support of this exhibition provided by Art Bridges, in addition to generous support from local sponsors, will further the Harn’s goal of deepening our connection with our community.”
Silver Linings: Celebrating the Spelman Art Collection includes a variety of mediums and techniques such as painting, drawing, sculpture, mixed-media collage, prints, and photographs divided into five sections that focus on the Spiral Group, abstraction, early figuration, contemporary photography, and contemporary figuration. The 28 artists represented in the exhibition include Amalia Amaki, Emma Amos, Benny Andrews, Firelei Báez, Herman “Kofi” Bailey, Romare Bearden, Betty Blayton, Beverly Buchanan, Selma Burke, Elizabeth Catlett, Floyd Coleman, Renee Cox, Myra Greene, Sam Gilliam, Samella Lewis, Glenn Ligon, Edna Manley, Howardena Pindell, Lucille Malkia Roberts, Deborah Roberts, Faith Ringgold, Nellie Mae Rowe, Lorna Simpson, Henry Ossawa Tanner, Lina Iris Viktor, Carrie Mae Weems, Charles White, and Hale Woodruff.
“We are honored to bring attention to Spelman College Museum of Fine Art’s Collection and be one of only two venues in the southeast,” said Dulce Román, Chief Curator and Curator of Modern Art at the Harn Museum of Art. “Silver Linings celebrates the collection while highlighting the significance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in supporting and promoting Black artists. We look forward to enhancing the artists’ visibility by collaborating with local organizations, developing exciting programing and outreach, and welcoming new audiences."
An Artist-in-Residence program and special Community Day are among the programs providing opportunities for the community to engage with the exhibition in multiple ways. Onsite Artist-in-Residence Jessica Clermont will create works of art inspired by the exhibition, Tuesday through Thursday from noon to 5 pm between March 6 and June 26. Visitors can engage in discussion as the artist works, discuss the influence of the exhibition and create their own work of art. A Community Day at the Harn, held Saturday, May 31 from noon to 4 pm, will celebrate the exhibition with tours, a silkscreen art activity, art creation by Artist-in-Residence Jessica Clermont, entertainment, partner information tables and refreshments. Generous support for these projects is provided by Art Bridges.
Silver Linings: Celebrating the Spelman Art Collection is organized by Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, Atlanta, Georgia and curated by Liz Andrews and Karen Comer Lowe with initial contributions from Anne Collins Smith.
