Freedom Dreams At The Barnes Foundation In Philadelphia, April 12 – August 9, 2026

As Philadelphia and the nation prepare to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, Freedom Dreams brings together powerful works by artists in film, video, and installation that invite viewers to immerse themselves in the memories, dreams, and histories of Black Americans.

Arthur Jafa. Love is the Message, The Message is Death, 2016. Video still. Courtesy of the artist, Gladstone, Sprüth Magers, and Sadie Coles HQ, London. © Arthur Jafa

The exhibition features works by Arthur Jafa, David Hartt, Garrett Bradley, Ja’Tovia Gary, and Tourmaline, all exploring history, archives, and cultural memory. Freedom Dreams highlights the fluid boundary between past, present, and future and encourages viewers to reflect on how Americans of color have shaped identities and created spaces of resistance, joy, and resilience in the face of systemic oppression. The exhibition is co-curated by Maori Karmael Holmes, Chief Executive and Artistic Officer of BlackStar Projects, and James Claiborne, Fleischner Family Deputy Director for Community Engagement at the Barnes.

For more information and tickets, please visit: https://www.barnesfoundation.org/