“Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art” explores the works of LGBTQ+ artists from Africa and its diaspora at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art.
The exhibition, on display through August 23, 2026, puts particular emphasis on the voices of the artists involved, including Zanele Muholi, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Leilah Babirye, Jim Chuchu, Sola Olulode and more.
The exhibition is the largest on this subject to date, and includes nearly 60 artworks. It’s also part of a larger research initiative known as the Here Project, which documents these voices. It includes practicing artists from all throughout the African continent and its global diaspora. The project’s documentation includes the stories of identity, history, family, spirit, and place.
The museum states: “While their experiences are unique to them, they address issues that unite us all: the importance of family, of spirit, of standing up for oneself and others, of imagining the future, of making intimate connections, of finding belonging, of embracing potential, and above all, of experiencing joy.”
The show is curated by award-winning exhibitionist Kevin D. Dumouchelle and Ugandan curator Serubiri Moses. Financial support comes from the Fisher Arts Impact Fund, an initiative backing inclusive, community-based art and art education.
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“Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art,” National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Photos by Brad Simpson, 2026
