art

From Obama to Optical Illusions: Ambitious Spring Season Awaits at MFAH

From Obama to Optical Illusions: Ambitious Spring Season Awaits at MFAH

'Barack Obama' by Kehinde Wiley and 'Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama' by Amy Sherald, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

ANYONE WHO WORKS behind the scenes at a museum will tell you that installing a major exhibition in the time of Covid-19 is no small feat, but Houston institutions continue to step up their efforts to bring great shows to the city and keep their staff and visitors safe. Looking ahead to Spring 2022, four exhibitions are scheduled to go up at MFAH, each equally ambitious in their scope and complexity.

First up is the critically acclaimed Dawoud Bey: An American Project (March 6 – May 30, 2022), a retrospective of more than 80 works by New York-born photographer Dawoud Bey. The exhibit includes Bey’s portraits of Harlem residents — photos he took between 1975 and 1979, inspired in part by the portraiture of Harlem Renaissance photographer James Van Der Zee — as well as Bey’s recent series of moonlit stops along the Underground Railroad, a project he describes as “trying to see through the eyes of a fugitive African American.”

For Bey, who lives with severe hearing loss, photography is both a medium of personal expression and a way to reaffirm the “presence” of his subjects, specifically Black Americans, who are historically under- or misrepresented in museums, be it a skinny, yet confident boy in big sunglasses, holding a carton of milk, or a trio of senior ladies in Sunday church hats, leaning on a police barricade at a neighborhood parade.

Also scheduled for the Spring is M.C. Escher (March 6 – Sept. 5, 2022), a collection of bizarro illustrations and objects by the Dutch master of optical illusion, M.C. Escher, and Extraordinary Realities (March 13 – June 12, 2022), a provocative exhibit of South Eastern- and Persian-inspired miniature paintings by Glassell School of Art Core Program alumnus Shahzia Sikander.

The Obama Portraits Tour (April 3 – May 30, 2022) brings the official portraits of President Barack Obama (by Kehinde Wiley) and First Lady Michelle Obama (by Amy Sherald) to Houston, providing an intriguing counterpoint to the everyday royalty Bey captures so masterfully in his photographs.

M.C. Escher's 'Relativity'

'Horace and Shamari,' by Dawoud Bey

'Intimacy,' by Shahzia Sikander

From Your Site Articles
Related Articles Around the Web
Art + Entertainment
promoted

Leadership in Action: CEO Theresa Roemer Credits Mother, Mentors and Mindset for Accomplishments

Leadership in Action: CEO Theresa Roemer Credits Mother, Mentors and Mindset for Accomplishments

How did you get to where you are today? My journey to where I am today is built on a foundation of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Every step along the way, I faced obstacles, but I approached each one with determination and a “never give up” mindset. Instead of being discouraged by challenges, I used them as opportunities to grow and improve. Consistency was key—I committed to showing up and giving my best effort every day. I also learned not to take “no” as a final answer. Instead, I saw it as a chance to push harder, adapt, and find another way forward. It’s this combination of persistence, resilience, and unwavering focus that has brought me to where I am today.

Keep Reading Show less
promoted

Leadership in Action: ‘Family, Community and Spiritual Connection’ Drives Success for Henry Richardson

Al Torres

How did you get to where you are today? The present moment is a combined history of my family, my time as an athlete, my passion for learning, and my desire to see the world be better. I grew up as a successful springboard and platform diver, however, an injury caused me to seek alternative treatments to heal my body. In that process, I discovered the power of yoga, exercise, meditation, mindset, and nutrition. This holistic approach eventually led me to open a Pilates and cycling studio called DEFINE body & mind. I opened studios around the nation, and after selling most of my business between 2017-2019, I was ready to explore how I could make an even greater impact on the wellbeing of our community. In 2023, I started actively working on a brand new multi-family/apartment concept called, Define Living. The idea focused on offering health and wellness services within a beautiful apartment setting to increase the wellbeing of our residents. Having a strong sense of community is the number one factor in living a happy life, so why not build a community where daily fitness, cooking classes, and social connection are the norm? We opened Define Living in March of 2024, and we couldn’t be happier with how things are being received. We are already looking at building more concepts like this in the Houston area and beyond.

Keep Reading Show less
promoted

Leadership in Action: ‘Setting Clear Goals’ Among Secrets of Success for Attorney Jess Bailey

Al Torres

How did you get to where you are today? A few key principles integrated into my life: setting clear goals, maintaining a growth mindset, building strong habits, and surrounding myself with the right people. Goals provided direction, while a growth mindset helped me turn challenges into opportunities for learning. Consistent habits, like disciplined work and effective communication, kept me moving forward. Being surrounded by motivated, supportive individuals has elevated my standards and kept me accountable. They’ve provided advice, encouragement, and sometimes that extra push I needed to stay on track. With these elements, I’ve been able to create a framework that helps me succeed and ensures I continue to grow and evolve.

Keep Reading Show less
People + Places