Driskell & Friends Exhibition Celebrates the Collaborative Spirit of Visionary Artist and Scholar David C. Driskell
January 30, 2024
Driskell & Friends Exhibition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Park, Md.—The creative legacy of David C. Driskell (1931–2020), a renowned artist, educator, curator, scholar and historian, takes center stage in the compelling exhibition David C. Driskell & Friends: Creativity, Collaboration, and Friendship, which opens at The Driskell Center Gallery on February 26 and runs until May 24. Featuring more than 70 artworks by 35 prominent African American artists and original archival materials, Driskell & Friends brings to life Driskell's profound commitment to interpersonal connections as a driving force in the visual arts.
Driskell's creative practice was deeply rooted in the collaborative, with friendships serving as conduits for support, influence, and inspiration. As both a personal and professional collaborator, Driskell championed and canonized the work of fellow African American artists, including Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Aaron Douglas, Loïs Mailou Jones, Jacob Lawrence, Alma Thomas, Kara Walker, and many more featured in this exhibition. Breaking away from traditional notions of the solitary artist, the exhibition sheds light on the pivotal role such collaborations played in Driskell's journey, from coordinating in printmaking workshops to engaging in formal and informal dialogues with fellow artists. It is a testament to the enduring power of collaboration and the profound impact of David C. Driskell on the world of art.
Driskell & Friends will be the first exhibition in The Driskell Center’s newly renovated campus gallery, and will be the only iteration of the show to date that features original archival materials from The David C. Driskell Papers. Assistant Director of Exhibitions & Programs, Dr. Abby R. Eron notes, “We are excited to welcome these works of art back to campus, supplemented by our one-of-a-kind archival materials. This exhibition showcases the significance of Driskell’s professional and personal networks, which included some of the most eminent artists of the 20th century. Visitors across campus and beyond will be able to intimately experience The Driskell Center’s unique collection and, more importantly, to learn a history of Black art from a personal point of view.”
Originally conceived and organized by Dr. Sheila Bergman (University of California, Riverside), Curlee Raven Holton (The Driskell Center), and Heather Sincavage (Wilkes University), the exhibition's presentation at the University of Maryland was co-curated by The Driskell Center’s Assistant Director of Exhibitions & Programs, Dr. Abby R. Eron, and Director, Dr. Jordana Moore Saggese. The collaborative effort behind this showcase mirrors the ethos it seeks to celebrate—emphasizing the interconnectedness that defined Driskell's artistic journey.
All works featured in the exhibition are from the permanent collection of The David C. Driskell Center at the University of Maryland. Driskell & Friends has been previously presented at Wilkes University Sordoni Art Gallery (November 1, 2022 to February 25, 2023) and the California Museum of Photography at the University of California, Riverside (September 2, 2023 to December 21, 2023). Following its presentation at the University of Maryland, the exhibition will travel to the Arthur Ross Gallery at the University of Pennsylvania (June 15, 2024 to September 15, 2024).
Driskell & Friends is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalog available for purchase exclusively at The Driskell Center—a captivating keepsake for art enthusiasts and those seeking to explore the rich tapestry of African American creativity.
Exhibition Details:
Title: David C. Driskell & Friends: Creativity, Collaboration, and Friendship
Presented by: The Driskell Center, University of Maryland
Location: 1214 Cole Student Activities Building
Dates: February 26, 2024 to May 24, 2024
Opening Reception: February 23, 2024, 6:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m.
Sponsors:
Driskell & Friends has been generously supported by the Maryland State Arts Council; Clara Elizabeth Jackson Carter Foundation; Larry and Brenda Thompson Curatorial Fund; The University of Maryland; Bonnie Thornton Dill, Dean Emerita of the College of Arts and Humanities; The University of Maryland’s Arts for All initiative; The Driskell Center Advisory Board; and The Driskell Center’s many dedicated patrons.
About The Driskell Center:
The Driskell Center is a creative incubator at the University of Maryland dedicated to a world where Black artists exist at its center. We invite inquiry, experimentation, and dialogue to reexamine histories and shape shared futures.
Image Credit:
David C. Driskell, Mask Series II, 2019. The Driskell Center, University of Maryland. Gift of Raven Fine Art Editions.
VIEW OF THE VIRTUAL EXHIBITION
For media inquiries, please contact Sarah Snyder at ssnyder3@umd.edu