Black History Festival of the Arts 2027

Description

Produced by OH Art Foundation
3rd Annual Black History Festival of the Art (BHFA27)
INSPIRARE
Breathing Life into New Vision
Curated by Juarez Hawkins and Thomas LucasLocation: OH Art Foundation, 2nd floor gallery of Zhou B Art Center, 1029 W. 35th St., Chicago, IL 60609Exhibition Dates:  January 15th 2027 – March 14, 2027Apply by December 13th, 2026Notification by December 22nd, 2026Opening Reception: Friday January 15th, 2027, 7pm-10pm
 60 years ago, Black artists, writers, poets, performers, and philosophers came together to forge a vision of what Black life could become. Collectively, they breathed life into their vision, creating art movements and building institutions.What does Black Power mean in a time of dwindling access and rising racism? We are seeking works that respond to the legacy of the Black Arts Movement, works that breathe life into a new vision for Black America while speaking our self-evident truths to power.

ABOUT THE CURATORS
Juarez HawkinsJuarez Hawkins is an artist, educator and curator. She received her B.A. from Northwestern University, and her M.A. in Interdisciplinary Arts from Columbia College Chicago. Juarez added clay to her wheelhouse in 2006, when she began teaching at Chicago State University. Studying under Marva Jolly, she found the malleability of the medium well-suited to her ideas around identity, spirituality, and the body. Juarez has exhibited widely, including exhibitions at Bridgeport Art Center, the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, and the South Side Community Art Center. She is a member of Sapphire and Crystals, a collective of African Americanfemale artists. Her curatorial projects include Black Clay: A Survey of African American Ceramics and Luis De La Torre: Contemporary Codex at Chicago State’s President’s Gallery; Bill Walker: Urban Griot at the Hyde Park Art Center; Patric McCoy: Take My Picture at Wrightwood 659; and Irina Zadov: What Time Is It? at the Chicago Art Department.
Web and Social:IG: @studio_rezFB: Juarez Hawkinsjuarezhawkins.comjuarez.hawkins@gmail.com
Thomas LucasFounder and Master Printer at Hummingbird Press Editions Thomas has published such artists as Kerry Marshall, Robert Pruitt, Richard Hunt, Willie Cole, Barbara Jones-Hogu, Jean Matulka and Candida Alverez.He as taught at Tyler School of Art, The School of the Art Institute Chicago., Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, , Penland School of Crafts, Arrowmont, Ox bow and is currently the Chair of the Art and Design Department at Chicago State University. Solo and group exhibititions at the South Side Community Art Center, Chicago, Elmhurst College, Chicago State University, The Art Institute of Chicago, N'Namdi Contemporary, Miami, Museum of Greater Lafayette at Purdue, IN. International exhibitions in Skopelos Greece, Isreal, Morelia Mexico and Spain.. Gallery repesentation by Lusenhop Fine Art, Cleveland. Penland Gallery,NC. N’Namdi Contemporary Miami-Detroit. Public art and Commissions with DCASE, CTA and NASACAR Chicago.Primary medium(s) – printmaking, ceramic, fused glassWeb and Social:IG: @printerthomasthomas-lucas.comprinterthomas@gmail.com
Eligibility & Guidelines:

Open to artists 18 years or older
Must reside in the United States (Midwest-based artists especially encouraged)
All 2D visual media will be considered (painting, photography, mixed media, digital, etc.)3D and time-based media may be included as exceptions due to limited installation support and space capacity.
Fee: $30.00 one-time applicant fee with up to 2 artwork submissions. 
For those submitting artwork that need financial assistance, you may contact us at OH Art Foundation info@ohartfoundation.org
Artwork Requirements:
Submissions may include, but are not limited to: paintings, drawings, photography, digital, and mixed media on the wall. Works should be thought-provoking, emotionally resonant, and relevant to the themes of the exhibit. All submitted works should be original, and artists may submit up to 2 pieces for consideration.
Artwork Size Restrictions: Larger works are encouraged. All work must be no larger than 12 ft width x 10 ft height including frame and ready for wall hanging.
Shipping: Artists will be responsible for shipping and delivery to and from the gallery.
Art Sales: There is a 40% commission on all gallery sales
Participation Rules: By submitting your art to us, you grant Oh Art Foundation and Zhou B Art Center permission to publish your work in print, online, and on social media for exhibition and marketing purposes. All artwork will be attributed to the artist. By participating, you certify that you are the rightful owner of the art and that it does not infringe on any copyright violations.

About OH Art Foundation:
OH Art Foundation celebrates diversity through accessible, cross-cultural and intergenerational art and cultural programs that connect artists, youth, and communities across generations. We amplify underrepresented voices and foster deeper cultural understanding through shared creative experiences.

Founded in 2013 by artist and educator InJung Oh, OHAF is a Chicago-based nonprofit rooted on the South Side and guided by the belief: We serve community. We celebrate diversity.
​As an art accelerator, OHAF creates a dynamic model that connects art, community, and cross-sector partners. By highlighting diverse creatives as cultural “cross-pollinators,” we foster collaboration, exchange, and innovative cultural production. Through education, exhibitions, and festivals, we build inclusive, community-driven spaces that reflect lived experiences.New accessible storefront location opened this year, 2026 : 3314 S Morgan St, Chicago, IL, 60608Join and leaves comments for us!

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Join OH Art Foundation: https://www.ohartfoundation.org/join-us
About Zhou B Art Center:
Founded in 2004 by the internationally acclaimed Zhou Brothers, Zhou B Art Center was created as a site of exchange between local artists and the global art community while promoting the contemporary convergence of Eastern and Western visuality in the United States. Located in Chicago’s historic Bridgeport neighborhood, the Zhou B Art Center’s mission is to engage cultural dialogue through contemporary art exhibitions and programming with an international scope.The Zhou B Art Center provides galleries, studio spaces, and a collaborative environment to a thriving community of talented artists and curators. The purpose of the Zhou B Art Center is to nurture the creativity and growth of its nearly 50 resident artists while providing groundbreaking exhibitions open to the public. On the Third Friday of each month, the center hosts a free exhibition and open studio event where locals can explore the main galleries as well as resident artists’ studios. This event is the perfect opportunity for Chicagoans and tourists alike to support the numerous artists involved with the Zhou B Art Center.
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