The Museum of Modern Art in New York will present a major exhibition in 2027 exploring mid-century modernism in Africa through the lens of "emancipatory art."
Titled Freedom and Futures: Emancipatory Art in Africa, 1956-1982, the show will run from May 2 to August 14, 2027 and feature about 250 works, including 40 from MoMA's own collection. It is curated by Ugochukwu-Smooth C. Nzewi, who leads the museum's Africa-focused C-MAP initiative, together with Erica DiBenedetto.
The exhibition centers on a period of transformation across the continent, when artists responded to independence movements, cultural renewal, and new national identities. Nzewi describes the concept as a way to understand how artistic practice and historical change moved together, creating a visual language for decolonization and liberation.
Among the key works will be Thomas Mukarobgwa's Dying People in the Bush (1962), Malangatana Valente Ngwenya's Cry for Freedom (1973), and Uche Okeke's Women Riot (Aba Revolt) (1965). The exhibition also reflects on landmark gatherings such as the Congress of Black Writers and Artists in Paris, the First World Festival of Negro Arts in Dakar, and the Pan-African Cultural Festival in Algiers.
By connecting African modernism to broader global conversations, the project aims to expand how mid-century art history is understood. It also positions Africa as a central force in the story of modern art, not a peripheral chapter. The exhibition may help shape a more inclusive view of modernism for future generations.
