Kwame Brathwaite, “Sikolo Brathwaite,” 1968, printed 2016. Archival pigment print, mounted and framed with Optima, 30 x 30 in. Courtesy the Kwame Brathwaite Archive and Philip Martin Gallery, Los Angeles
Giving you the best that I got
October 11, 2025 – March 7, 2026
In Collaboration With California African American Museum
Opening: October 11, 2025, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
3401 W. 43rd Place, Los Angeles, CA 90008
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Giving you the best that I got highlights images and narratives of Black mothers, from pregnancy to the forever journey of what it means to be a mother. The sacred relationship between mother and child has shaped many artistic expressions throughout history, yet the nuanced experiences and attitudes around Black mothers in contemporary art remains underdocumented. This exhibition features not only artists who make work that intentionally foregrounds Black women and matrilineal histories, it also includes others whose work shows an appreciation for them through themes of nostalgia, care, and cultural inheritance.
Giving you the best that I got is curated by Dominique Clayton, independent curator and founder of Dominique Gallery, and is co-presented by the California African American Museum and Art + Practice as part of CAAM at A+P, a five-year collaboration.
Participating artists for the exhibition include: Derrick Adams, Kwame Brathwaite, Bisa Butler, Karon Davis, Kenturah Davis, Lanise Howard, February James, Ashley January, Shaniqwa Jarvis, Jill Knox, Lex Marie, Helina Metaferia, Calida Rawles, Harmonia Rosales, Jamel Shabazz, Ferrari Sheppard, Shefon N. Taylor, Sydney Vernon, Ciarra K. Walters and Carrie Mae Weems
Carrie Mae Weems, “Untitled (Putting on Make-Up), from the Kitchen Table Series II,” 1990–99. Gelatin silver print, 10 x 9.75 in.; Photo: © Carrie Mae Weems, courtesy the artist, Gladstone, New York, Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco, and Galerie Barbara Thumm, Berlin
Shaniqwa Jarvis, “With Intention,” 2017. Photograph, 40 x 30 in. Courtesy the artist and Rajendra Debah
Lanise Howard, “With Open Arms (The Life Bearer),” 2024. Oil on canvas, 60 x 48 in. Courtesy the artist and Mindy Solomon Gallery
Jamel Shabazz, “A Mother’s Love, Brooklyn, NYC,” 1987. Pigment print, 16 x 20 in. Courtesy the artist
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A+P’s education program welcomes teachers, students and art enthusiasts to explore and engage with A+P’s museum-curated exhibitions. Interested in bringing your group to A+P? Free guided tours are available to schedule Tuesday–Friday, 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.