“My images come from things I want to see in the world, portraits of blackness that have not yet had their moment.”

Contemporary artist Derrick Adams has spent his career presenting stories of the Black lived experiences that often go untold. Now, the Baltimore native shares his own story. Celeste Davis, curator and programmer of the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum, will talk with Adams about his Buoyant exhibition; his artistic and personal journey; how artists Jacob Lawrence and Romare Bearden influenced his practice; and how he hopes his work shapes representation in art for the next generation.  Register today for this free event!

The Museum of Fine Arts is currently presenting Derrick Adams: Buoyant, the artist’s first major solo museum exhibition and the final stop of this exhibition. The exhibition is drawn from his Floaters series of paintings held within private collections, and will be on view through November 29, 2020. In his Floaters series, the multi-disciplinary artist depicts exuberant images of Black joy and leisure, putting forth a more nuanced and comprehensive narrative of Black experiences. Derrick Adams earned his MFA from Columbia University, his BFA from Pratt Institute, and is a Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture and Marie Walsh Sharpe alumnus. A recipient of numerous grants and awards, his artwork is in the permanent collections of public institutions, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY; Studio Museum, NY; and the Whitney Museum of American Art, NY. Buoyant is organized by the Hudson River Museum, in association with the MFA, St. Petersburg, and curated by James E. Bartlett, founder of OpenArt and former Executive Director of the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA), in Brooklyn, New York, and Laura Vookles, Chair of the Hudson River Museum’s Curatorial Department. The MFA, St. Pete is the city’s first and largest art museum, and works to engage, educate and excite the community by collecting, exhibiting, and preserving works of art for the enjoyment of all.

Celeste Davis has curated exhibitions at the Woodson, such as Willie Daniels, Florida Highwayman, and is the producer and host of the museum’s monthly Saturday series, Curious Collector – Conversation Café. Davis earned her English degree from Spelman College and an MFA from The George Washington University. She has a certificate in Fine Art and Furniture Appraisal from New York University. Davis is a past member of the St. Petersburg Art Advisory Committee and community liaison for Fairgrounds. The Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum is located in St. Petersburg’s historic Jordan Park community. Its mission is to preserve, present, interpret and celebrate African American art and history.

We are thrilled our museums are partnering again for this exciting conversation!

The Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg is a nonprofit organization that fosters a vibrant community through education and engagement. During our temporary closure, so many of you asked how you can help your Museum. Even though we have reopened, the impact of the months of closure is great. Here are a few ways you can support the MFA today:

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