Opening Reception for Art of the African Diaspora 2024

Saturday January 27

2 to 4pm

Richmond Art Center

This year NIAD is delighted to have works by seventeen NIAD artists in the Richmond Art Center‘s AOTAD exhibition, with satellite exhibition locations to be announced. Art of the African Diaspora, in partnership with Richmond Art Center, supports artists of African descent in the Bay Area through representation, professional development, and building a creative community.

NIAD Artists in Art of the African Diaspora:

Art of the African Diaspora Exhibition Dates: January 24 to March 16

About Art of the African Diaspora

Art Of The African Diaspora is the longest running event of its kind in the Bay Area. It originated from a salon for African American artists known as Colors of Black that was organized in 1989 by artist and professor Marie Johnson Calloway. 

In 1996 artists Jan Hart-Schuyers and Rae Louise Hayward established the exhibition The Art of Living Black at Richmond Art Center. Many of the artists from Colors of Black participated in the inaugural exhibition, which presented the work of emerging and established African American artists. The artists gained introductions to new audiences, and access to build a creative community of artists and art lovers. 

Over the next twenty-five years the exhibition ensured the increased visibility for African American artists in the Bay Area that Hart-Schuyers and Hayward conceptualized.  After the loss of both founders, their organizing efforts were carried on for many years by artists, family members, and RAC.

The next stage of the events development happened in 2018, when a Steering Committee comprised of participating artists, presented the exhibition. In 2019, the Committee became aware of the necessity to incorporate a broader vision of the African Diaspora and consequently renamed the organization Art Of The African Diaspora.