We Are The Flower, “Movements Don’t Die” - Honoring Harry Belafonte

Welcoming Tosha Stimage, AAFR Arts Program Manager!

AAFR is so excited to expand our team with the vision and care ethic of our new Arts Program Manager, Tosha Stimage!

Tosha Stimage is a multi-disciplinary artist who uses a variety of mediums to examine and reflect on the limitations of language. Her work focuses on disrupting the idea of isolated meaning. By consistently re-contextualizing material forms and histories she is able to challenge visual languages as an ongoing investigation of racial ideologies.

Welcome to the AAFR Team, Tosha!

Ashara Ekundayo in Conversation with Tricia Hersey!

The Black Curator's Lab (BlkCL) Launches at Minnesota Street Project!

AAFR is happy to welcome Trayvon Smith as our inaugural curator-in-residence in BlkCL!

Trayvon is a San Francisco native who has an intense passion for art ventures, photography & building community. He is a strong believer in using his talents to give back to the community and believes that everyone deserves to have their stories told and their voices heard - an advocate for black and queer visibility.

The BlkCL is a studio-based residency for ideation, research, making, and rest for Black independent curators living and working primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area. Designed and stewarded by independent curator Ashara Ekundayo.

Thanks to our first year sponsors the African American Art & Culture Complex, the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, and the Culture Change Fund!

Save the Date: 2023 Juneteenth Emancipation Celebrations!

June 18th, 2023

AAFR is excited to be at Liberation Park with the Black Cultural Zone for the 2023 Juneteenth celebrations!

Save the date for Sunday, June 18, (Father’s Day) for the unveiling of the AAFR AfroPortals Project Space & Archive in collaboration with Black Life at Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA).

Men's Wellness Fellowship Returns!

Our Men’s Wellness Fellowship returned last month for an April gathering in Oakland in a new space.

This free & all ages community fellowship experience is specifically for men of color and co-founded & hosted by Karega Bailey of Sol Development ** and AAFR Social & Creative Economies Fellow Christian Walker.

Thanks to our sponsors at the City of Oakland ReCAST Grant!

AAFR at EXPOChicago!

Artist As First Responder bows in deep gratitude to all creative practitioners who contributed to the inspirational, transformative and fulfilling experience at EXPOChicago this year!

We had an amazing time collaborating with Southern Guild Gallery for the SOUTH x SOUTH activations that featured exchanges between South Side Chicago artists and our South African sibling-artists!

#PatreonExclusive Ashara Ekundayo Interview with Shani Crowe!

During the EXPOChicago activation with Southern Guild Gallery, Shani Crowe and her South African sister-artist ceramicist Zizipho Poswa collaborated via a hair braiding ritual.

Listen to Shani Crowe and Ashara Ekundayo discuss Crowe’s performance art process and the ways she applies her passion and creativity through the sacred and ancient practice of hair braiding.

Become a Patreon member to unlock exclusive interviews, photos, articles and content!

Coming Up Next…. AAFR in New York!

This month AAFR is heading to 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair. 1-54 fair strives to promote a community of diverse perspectives, including evolving interpretations of the diasporic experience. 1-54 features leading international galleries specializing in contemporary African art alongside artists talks, panel discussions and a Special Projects program.

We’ll also be at Frieze New York an art fair that brings together the world’s leading galleries to showcase ambitious solo, group and themed presentations by pioneering artists and offers the opportunity to not only discover up-and-coming talent but also engage with some of art history’s most important figures.

Follow us on Instagram to stay up to date with what we’re doing while we’re there!