Two landmark exhibitions celebrate the legacy of Black Dimensions in Art and the vision of Jacob Lawrence.
Roy De Carava, Catsup bottles tables and coat. Courtesy of the artist and the Albany Institute.For Liberation and For Life
The Albany Institute of History & Art is currently presenting two major exhibitions that celebrate Black art, history, and community impact. ‘For Liberation and For Life: The Legacy of Black Dimensions in Art’, which opened on August 23, 2025, marks the 50th anniversary of Black Dimensions in Art, Inc. (BDA), the longest-running Black arts collective in New York’s Capital Region. Complementing this milestone, ‘Jacob Lawrence: Three Series of Prints’ opened on September 6, 2025, bringing together rare graphic works by one of the most influential American artists of the twentieth century.
For Liberation and For Life
Founded in 1975 in Schenectady, BDA was established by artists and activists determined to break systemic barriers facing Black artists. For five decades, the collective has advanced its mission through exhibitions, education, and mentorship, creating platforms for artists of African descent across generations.
‘For Liberation and For Life’ brings together more than 60 works spanning painting, sculpture, textiles, photography, film, and mixed media. The exhibition includes nationally and internationally recognised artists alongside regional voices, forming one of the most comprehensive presentations of Black art ever staged in the Capital Region.
The exhibition title is drawn from Elizabeth Catlett’s declaration: “I have always wanted my art to serve my people—to reflect us, to relate to us, to stimulate us, to make us aware of our potential. We have to create art for liberation and for life.” That call to action resonates throughout the show, featuring works by Catlett herself alongside those of Romare Bearden, Roy DeCarava, Henry Ossawa Tanner, and a diverse range of contemporary practitioners.
The exhibition also features artists with ties to the region, including Marcus Kwame Anderson, Alisa Sikelianos-Carter, and Takeyce Walter, underscoring BDA’s continuing role in fostering community and visibility for local talent. Lenders range from significant institutional collections to artist studios, reinforcing the deep networks that sustain Black artistic production.
Jacob Lawrence, Forward together. Courtesy of the Albany Institute.
Jacob Lawrence: Three Series of Prints
Running in tandem with the BDA exhibition is ‘Jacob Lawrence: Three Series of Prints’. Lawrence (1917–2000), widely regarded as one of the most important chroniclers of African American life and history, created works rooted in themes of resilience, liberation, and justice. This nationally travelling exhibition brings together three silkscreen series produced between 1972 and 2000:
- Genesis, which retells the biblical creation story in vivid colour and form.
- Toussaint L’Ouverture, a visual biography of the Haitian revolutionary leader who forged the first successful slave uprising in the Western Hemisphere.
- Hiroshima is a haunting meditation on war and the human costs of violence.
Lawrence’s printmaking extended the power of his painted narratives, reaching broad audiences while retaining the same clarity, rhythm, and intensity. His work continues to resonate as both personal testimony and collective history.
Curated by Peter Nesbett, the exhibition primarily draws from the collections of Alitash Kebede and Dr and Mrs Leon Banks. It is organised by Landau Travelling Exhibitions, Los Angeles, and situates Lawrence’s prints within his broader career as a teacher, activist, and artist of enduring influence.
Public Programs and Partnerships
The Albany Institute will host a public reception on October 25, 2025, celebrating both exhibitions. Additional programming includes film screenings, educational workshops, and community events designed to engage audiences of all ages. Family Free Day on November 11 and First Friday on December 5 will feature special activities tied to the exhibitions.
The exhibitions also intersect with programming at the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College, which is presenting ‘Up to Us: Black Dimensions in Art, 1975–Tomorrow’. This companion show highlights archival material from BDA’s history alongside contemporary works, and visitors who attend the Tang will receive free admission to the Albany Institute through December 31, 2025.
Continuing a Legacy
Together, these exhibitions honour both a collective and an individual whose work has shaped artistic discourse across generations. By celebrating the legacy of BDA and presenting the visionary prints of Jacob Lawrence, the Albany Institute affirms its commitment to amplifying African diasporic voices and situating them at the centre of American cultural history.
‘For Liberation and For Life: The Legacy of Black Dimensions in Art’ is on view through December 31, 2025. ‘Jacob Lawrence: Three Series of Prints’ is on view through December 31, 2025. For more information, visit albanyinstitute.org.
