ART

 

Current Exhibitions

The Shape of Blackness

A Virtual Exhibition of South African and US Artists

THE SHAPE OF BLACKNESS is a virtual art exhibition and related programming that highlights expressions of contemporary Blackness as envisioned by South African and U.S. artists. In choosing these two nations, we seek perspectives from the global north and south, Black majority and Black minority nations. SHAPE is inspired by the Rorschact inkblot, which even in its most mundane form, is a useful framing device for a group show. It conveys both symmetry and individual interpretation of an entire picture: “when you look at contemporary Blackness, what do you see?”

By no means do we think that our histories and contexts are the same, or even drawn from the same source. This is where the bigger, more individual interpretation of the picture comes into place. What Blackness represents, the story that it begins to tell–is completely and rightfully subjective. Your history, your outlook inform your perspective.

 
 

Featured Artists

Justice 4 Tyranny

Digital Artist

Artwork reimagines and recreates stories of African heroism and oppression.

Abba Yahudah

painter & designer

I understand the therapeutic impact that vibrant colors can have on the human psyche.

Brette Sims

Painter + Designer

Feminist illustrator and painter, originally from Oakland.

Refa One

Aerosol Artist

A fusion of unique stylized letters and eclectic cultural iconography.

Aaron Beitia

Painter + Designer

Depicts the love and emotion between humans and things.   


Oakstop

Oakstop is a social enterprise that uses commercial real estate as a platform for economic development and community empowerment by providing workspace, meeting/event space, and creative space to entrepreneurs and communities of color. 

OAKSTOP LOCATIONS
BROADWAY
1-510-698-9370
Mon-Fri: 9am - 6pm
Sat-Sun: By Appointment
BROADWAY
510-698-9370
Mon-Fri: 9am - 6pm
Sat-Sun: By Appointment
 
TELEGRAPH
1-510-698-9370
Mon-Fri: By Appointment
Sat-Sun: By Appointment
14TH ST
510-698-9370
Mon-Fri: By Appointment
Sat-Sun: By Appointment
 
California Ballroom
510-698-9370
Mon-Fri: By Appointment
Sat-Sun: By Appointment
RICHMOND BART
510-698-9370
Mon-Fri: By Appointment
Sat-Sun: By Appointment