Black representation and identity anchor “Define Yourself!,” an exhibition curated in collaboration with students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). On view November 6, 2026 through April 25, 2027, at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, VA, “Define Yourself!” draws inspiration from James Baldwin’s book, “The Fire Next Time”(1963), in which Baldwin warns the Black community that those who do not define themselves risk being defined by others. The exhibition grapples with themes of self-identification and external perceptions, encouraging viewers to reflect on the ways Black identity is shaped and understood.
Painting, sculpture, photography and mixed media from a range of artists including Emma Amos, Kwame Brathwaite, Elizabeth Catlett, Gordon Parks, Hank Willis Thomas, Kara Walker, James van der Zee and others will be among the works on view.
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Photo Credit: Carl Van Vechten (American, 1880 – 1964). James Baldwin, 1955. Gelatin silver print © Carl Van Vechten Trust 2016.23.2