Black Earth Rising: Art, Resistance & the Natural World
- Qeturah Rasyth
- Jun 2, 2025
- 2 min read
May 18 – September 21, 2025
Selected by The New York Times as a must-see exhibition this spring, Black Earth Rising brings together a powerful group of contemporary artists exploring nature, resilience, and environmental justice.
Guest curated by Ekow Eshun, this groundbreaking show features paintings, sculptures, films, and works on paper by African diasporic, Latin American, and Indigenous artists—each reclaiming connections to the land amid histories of colonialism and climate crisis.
The exhibition’s title references terra preta ("black earth"), an ultra-fertile soil created by ancient Amazonian civilizations—a symbol of regeneration and Indigenous wisdom.
Two Artists to Watch
Wangechi Mutu – "The End of eating Everything" (2013)
Mutu’s mesmerizing animated video collage (featuring singer Santigold) depicts a monstrous, consuming figure floating in a polluted sky—a haunting allegory of human greed and environmental destruction.
Why It Stands Out:
Blends Afrofuturism with ecological warning.
A visually stunning critique of overconsumption.
Yinka Shonibare – "The American Library" (2018)
While known for his vibrant Dutch wax fabric sculptures, Shonibare’s contribution to Black Earth Rising is likely his mixed-media installations exploring migration and nature.
Why It Resonates:
Questions colonial land exploitation through symbolic materials.
Merges beauty with sharp political commentary.
Why Visit?
See nature through the lens of resistance—from Indigenous land stewardship to Afrofuturist ecologies.
Bold, vibrant works that balance urgency with hope.Limited-edition catalog available at the BMA Shop.
Baltimore Museum of Art📅 May 18 – Sept 21, 2025🎟 Get tickets here
Among the artists featured are: Firelei Báez Alejandro Piñeiro Bello Frank Bowling Teresita Fernández Todd Gray Sky Hopinka Tyler Mitchell Jamal R. Moore Wangechi Mutu Otobong Nkanga Jaune Quick-to-See Smith Yinka Shonibare Alberta Whittle
Want more art insights? Follow @QMRFineArtConsulting for exhibition highlights and investment-worthy artists.
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