David C. Driskell & Friends: Creativity, Collaboration, and Friendship highlights the artistic legacy of David C. Driskell and the importance of his relationships with fellow artists — many of whom hold a significant place in the 20th-century art canon. In 1976, Driskell curated the groundbreaking exhibition Two Centuries of Black American Art: 1750–1950, which has been foundational for the field of African American art history. Many of the artists featured in Two Centuries of Black American Art are included in David C. Driskell & Friends.
This exhibition in the Upper-Level Galleries of the Frist Art Museum explores the work of, and Driskell’s relationships with, such figures as Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Jacob Lawrence, Keith Morrison, James Porter, Kara Walker, Hale Woodruff, and many others. It features more than 70 artworks by 35 prominent African American artists as well as ephemera from the Driskell Papers that exemplify the artists’ unique friendships.
Organized by The Driskell Center, University of Maryland, with support from the Teiger Foundation, and originally conceived by Dr. Sheila Bergman (University of California, Riverside), Curlee Raven Holton (former director The David C. Driskell Center), and Heather Sincavage (Wilkes University), the exhibition’s presentation at the Frist Art Museum was overseen by the Frist’s associate curator, Michael Ewing. The collaborative effort behind this showcase mirrors the ethos it seeks to celebrate, emphasizing the interconnectedness that defined Driskell’s artistic journey.
Join exhibition organizers Dr. Shelia Bergman, Curlee Raven Holton, Heather Sincavage, and Michael Ewing for a special opening conversation about the exhibition on Thursday, March 13, 2025, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the Frist Auditorium, Gallery admission required.
David C. Driskell & Friends is shown concurrently with the companion exhibition Kindred Spirits: Intergenerational Forms of Expression, 1966–1999, which explores the legacy and influence of Fisk University’s Art Department, which Driskell led from 1966 to 1976, at Carl Van Vechten Art Gallery, Fisk University. Kindred Spirits was organized by the Frist Art Museum and Fisk University Galleries, and co-curated by Michael Ewing, Frist Art Museum associate curator, and Jamaal B. Sheats, Fisk University Galleries director and curator. Both exhibitions run March 14 through June 1, 2025. See next week’s edition of the PRIDE for an in-depth look at Kindred Spirits.
Frist Fridays return on March 7 for 2025. Kick off their 2025 series with a celebration of the exhibition “Farm to Table: Art, Food, and Identity in the Age of Impressionism.” Don your café society couture and join the Parisian party. Reserve your tickets now for their 2025 debut event, or purchase a 2025 series pass for a discounted rate. Members party with half-off general admission, so join today. General Admission is only $30; $15 for Frist members. Advanced tickets are required. All sales final with no refunds.
Plan now for the rest of the year. May 2, celebrate local legends and the start of summer with “David C. Driskell & Friends: Creativity, Collaboration, and Friendship” and “Kindred Spirits: Intergenerational Forms of Expression, 1966–1999.” August 22, savor the last sips of summer Mediterranean style set amid “Venice and the Ottoman Empire.” And November 7, twist and shout at the final Frist Friday of the year with a ’60s themed celebration on the opening weekend of “Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–1964: Eyes of the Storm.”
