# Renaissance, Race, and Representation in the Harmon and Harriet Kelley Collection of African American Art ![A woman sits at a table with her arms folded and a cigarette in her mouth. She has short dark hair and red lips.](/sites/g/files/omnuum11446/files/styles/hwp_4_5__320x400/public/2025-10/Anyone%27s%20Date-Ernest%20T.%20Crichlow%20.jpg?itok=70m9wS3r) *Anyone’s Date* by Ernest T. Crichlow, 1940. Courtesy of the Harmon & Harriet Kelley Collection. ![A man stands holding a shovel, a bird with outstretched wings sits on his head with a rose in its beak. ](/sites/g/files/omnuum11446/files/styles/hwp_4_5__320x400/public/2025-10/Endangered%20Species-Ron%20Adams%20.jpg?itok=uCdFZzoo) *Endangered Species* by Ron Adams, 1991. Courtesy of the Harmon & Harriet Kelley Collection. ![Two figures dance, depicted in a boxy abstract style with flat bright colors. ](/sites/g/files/omnuum11446/files/styles/hwp_4_5__320x400/public/2025-10/Jitterbugs%20III%20-%20William%20H.%20Johnson.jpg?itok=RNgb11sj) *Jitterbugs III* by William Henry Johnson, 1941-42. Courtesy of the Harmon & Harriet Kelley Collection. On View October 1, 2025 - June 16, 2026 #### "We turn therefore, in the other direction to the elements of truest social portraiture and discover in the artistic self-expression of the Negro today, a new figure on the national canvas and a new force in the foreground of affairs." – Alain Locke, *The New Negro: An Interpretation,* 1925 *Renaissance, Race and Representation in the Harmon and Harriet Kelley Collection of African American Art* coincides with the recent renaming of the Cooper Gallery in honor of Alain LeRoy Locke (1885-1954). The first African American to earn a Ph.D. in philosophy from Harvard University in 1918, and the first African American Rhodes Scholar, Locke was the architect of the Harlem Renaissance and a leading figure in the recognition of the arts of Africa and its diasporic lineages in the United States and the Americas. In 1987, Dr. Harmon Kelley (1945-2023) and his wife, Harriet, visited the “Hidden Heritage: Afro-American Art, 1800-1950” exhibition curated by renowned artist and art historian David Driskell (1931-2020). This transformative encounter led to a life-long quest to collect and share the rich traditions of African American visual art. The Harmon and Harriet Kelley Collection of African American Art, organized by Landau Traveling Exhibitions, has been presented widely over the last decade including most recently at the Fresno Art Museum and the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. As the Kelley family has sought to acquire the work of artists such as Aaron Douglas, William H. Johnson, Jacob Lawrence, Norman Lewis, and Elizabeth Catlett, they have developed a vast collection that reads like a "who's who" of landmark works that includes paintings, etchings, lithographs, watercolors, block prints, silkscreens, and drawings. In this year marking the centennial anniversary of the publication of “Harlem, Mecca of the New Negro” - the path-breaking special issue of the social science journal *Survey Graphic* in which Locke outlines his vision for Afro-modernist aesthetics, this exhibition draws on the stewardship of the Kelley family, the robust history of the Harlem Renaissance as well as selected works by Romare Bearden, Hale Woodruff, Charles White, John Wilson, Lois Mailou Jones and Emma Amos from the Hutchins Center’s permanent collection. This exhibition was organized by Landau Traveling Exhibitions, Los Angeles, CA in partnership with the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research and the Alain Locke Gallery exhibitions team: Dell Marie Hamilton, curator; Jessica Dow, curatorial assistant; Pablo Gonzalez, preparator, and Bob Shane of Shane Signs. The Hutchins Center wishes to thank the Bob Bullock State History Texas Museum for granting permission to adapt their exhibition guide for "Renaissance, Race, and Representation in the Harmon and Harriet Kelley Collection of African American Art." ###### Listen to an audio interview with Harriet Kelley here: ###### View and Download the exhibition guide [here](/sites/g/files/omnuum11446/files/2026-03/Locke%20Gallery%20Kelley%20Collection%20Exhibition%20Guide%20March%203-compressed_0.pdf "Final Renaissance, Race, and Representation Guide (3/3)"). ## In the News [### Harvard GSAS Colloquy: The Power of Looking, Article and video interview with Cécile Fromont ](https://gsas.harvard.edu/news/power-looking) March 23, 2026 ![Cécile Fromont sitting on a bench in the Locke Gallery. She wears a purple blouse and black pants.](/sites/g/files/omnuum11446/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-03/Screenshot%202026-03-26%20at%2012.36.00%E2%80%AFPM.png?itok=ElGIeg0V) [### CBS News: "Boston celebrates 100th Black History Month by teaching new generations through workshops, art" ](https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/boston-celebrates-100th-black-history-month-art-exhibit-harvard/) February 28, 2026 description [### The Culture Show: Interview with Dell Hamilton about "Renaissance, Race, and Representation" at the Alain Locke Gallery ](https://www.wgbh.org/podcasts/the-culture-show/february-17-2026-on-frederick-wiseman-dell-hamilton-uli-lorimer-on-the-snowpack-and-matthew-shifrin) February 17, 2026 ![Thumbnail from the Culture Show, showing the hosts and title.](/sites/g/files/omnuum11446/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-02/Screenshot%202026-02-23%20at%204.09.22%E2%80%AFPM.png?itok=AIxpacY0) [### Bay State Banner: ‘Renaissance, Race and Representation’ at Harvard’s Locke Gallery ](https://baystatebanner.com/2026/02/04/renaissance-race-and-representation-at-harvards-locke-gallery/) February 04, 2026 ![Etching of an older woman with a wide straw hat and clothing pinned with a safety pin, she turns her head to look into the distance. ](/sites/g/files/omnuum11446/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-02/Sharecropper-%20Elizabeth%20Catlett%20.jpg?itok=Q5NnApOm) [### Boston Art Review: A Century of Afromodernism is on view at Harvard’s Newly Renamed Alain Locke Gallery of African & African American Art ](https://www.bostonartreview.com/read/renaissance-race-representation-alain-locke-gallery-melaine-ferdinand-king) November 26, 2025 ![Interior shot of the Locke Gallery with artworks lined up on the walls.](/sites/g/files/omnuum11446/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-02/Screenshot%202026-02-23%20at%204.09.09%E2%80%AFPM_0.png?itok=iwnr_59r) ## Past Events [### "Renaissance, Race, and Representation" Curatorial Tour with Dell Hamilton ](/event/renaissance-race-and-representation-curatorial-tour-dell-hamilton-6?occ_id=0)June 12, 2026 | 3:00PM - 4:00PM EDT | Locke Gallery, 102 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA In Person Curator Dell Hamilton will be giving a tour of Renaissance, Race, and Representation the current exhibit at the Alain Locke Gallery. Tours will take place at the Locke Gallery (102 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge) and will last for about 1 hour. Gallery... event [### "Renaissance, Race, and Representation" Curatorial Tour with Dell Hamilton ](/event/renaissance-race-and-representation-curatorial-tour-dell-hamilton-4?occ_id=0)June 4, 2026 | 3:00PM - 4:00PM EDT | Locke Gallery, 102 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA In Person Curator Dell Hamilton will be giving a tour of Renaissance, Race, and Representation the current exhibit at the Alain Locke Gallery. Tours will take place at the Locke Gallery (102 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge) and will last for about 1 hour. Gallery... event [### "Renaissance, Race, and Representation" Curatorial Tour with Dell Hamilton ](/event/renaissance-race-and-representation-curatorial-tour-dell-hamilton-3?occ_id=0)May 14, 2026 | 3:00PM - 4:00PM EDT | Locke Gallery, 102 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA In Person Curator Dell Hamilton will be giving a tour of Renaissance, Race, and Representation the current exhibit at the Alain Locke Gallery. Tours will take place at the Locke Gallery (102 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge) and will last for about 1 hour. Gallery... event [### "Renaissance, Race, and Representation" Curatorial Tour with Dell Hamilton ](/event/renaissance-race-and-representation-curatorial-tour-dell-hamilton-2?occ_id=0)April 16, 2026 | 3:00PM - 4:00PM EDT | Locke Gallery, 102 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA In Person Curator Dell Hamilton will be giving a tour of Renaissance, Race, and Representation the current exhibit at the Alain Locke Gallery. Tours will take place at the Locke Gallery (102 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge) and will last for about 1 hour. Gallery... event [### "Renaissance, Race, and Representation" Curatorial Tour with Dell Hamilton ](/event/renaissance-race-and-representation-curatorial-tour-dell-hamilton-5?occ_id=0)March 26, 2026 | 3:00PM - 4:00PM EDT | Locke Gallery, 102 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA In Person Curator Dell Hamilton will be giving a tour of Renaissance, Race, and Representation the current exhibit at the Alain Locke Gallery. Tours will take place at the Locke Gallery (102 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge) and will last for about 1 hour. Gallery... event [### "Renaissance, Race, and Representation" Curatorial Tour with Dell Hamilton ](/event/renaissance-race-and-representation-curatorial-tour-dell-hamilton-1?occ_id=0)February 19, 2026 | 3:00PM - 4:00PM EST | Locke Gallery, 102 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA In Person Curator Dell Hamilton will be giving a tour of Renaissance, Race, and Representation the current exhibit at the Alain Locke Gallery. Tours will take place at the Locke Gallery (102 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge) and will last for about 1 hour. Gallery... event [### "Renaissance, Race, and Representation" Curatorial Tour with Dell Hamilton ](/event/renaissance-race-and-representation-curatorial-tour-dell-hamilton-0?occ_id=0)November 19, 2025 | 3:00PM - 4:00PM EST | Locke Gallery, 102 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA In Person On Wednesday, November 12th and Wednesday, November 19th, curator Dell Hamilton will be giving tours of Renaissance, Race, and Representation the current exhibit at the Alain Locke Gallery. Tours will take place at the Locke Gallery (102 Mount Auburn... event [### "Renaissance, Race, and Representation" Curatorial Tour with Dell Hamilton ](/event/renaissance-race-and-representation-curatorial-tour-dell-hamilton?occ_id=0)November 12, 2025 | 3:00PM - 4:00PM EST | Locke Gallery, 102 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA In Person On Wednesday, November 12th and Wednesday, November 19th, curator Dell Hamilton will be giving tours of Renaissance, Race, and Representation the current exhibit at the Alain Locke Gallery. Tours will take place at the Locke Gallery (102 Mount Auburn... event [### Sounds of the Modern Renaissance: Yosvany Terry Quartet ](/event/sounds-modern-renaissance-yosvany-terry-quartet?occ_id=0)October 16, 2025 | 6:30PM - 8:00PM EDT | Alain Locke Gallery of African & African American Art In Person Registration Required Registration for this event is currently full, there will be a standby line on the day in case spots open up! Yosvany Terry, Senior Lecturer on Music / Director of Jazz Bands, is an internationally acclaimed Cuban musician, American... ![Yosvany Terry looking into the camera](/sites/g/files/omnuum11446/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-09/Yosvany-Terry-2016-4-8-12-16-20-25a.jpg?itok=oFdXA4F9) [### Opening Reception ](/event/opening-reception?occ_id=0)October 15, 2025 | 6:00PM - 8:00PM EDT | Alain Locke Gallery of African & African American Art In Person Please join us as we celebrate the opening of Renaissance, Race, and Representation in the Harmon and Harriet Kelley Collection of African American Art ![Elizabeth Catlett (1915-2012) Malcolm Speaks For Us, 1969 Four color linoleum cut Edition no.: 13/35 Malcolm Speaks for Us by Elizabeth Catlett, 1969. Courtesy of the Harmon & Harriet Kelley Collection. ](/sites/g/files/omnuum11446/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-09/Malcolm-Speaks-For-Us--Elizabeth-Catlett-.jpg?itok=K49UDdwH) [### Exhibition Opening ](/event/exhibition-opening?occ_id=0)October 1, 2025 | 10:00AM - 6:00PM EDT | Alain Locke Gallery of African & African American Art In Person Please join us as we open our doors for Renaissance, Race, and Representation in the Harmon and Harriet Kelley Collection of African American Art ![Ernest T. Crichlow (1914-2005) Anyone’s Date, 1940 Gouache on paper Anyone’s Date by Ernest T. Crichlow, 1940. Courtesy of the Harmon & Harriet Kelley Collection. ](/sites/g/files/omnuum11446/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-09/Anyone%27s-Date-Ernest-T.-Crichlow-.jpg?h=03b11440&itok=3H6R-del)