July 28, 2026
6:00–7:00 P.M.
CALIFORNIA AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM
Experience a walkthrough of two current exhibitions through the lens of photography as a vibrant repository of Black community life, memory, and geography. By examining studio portraits, local documentation, and modern artistic methods, Dr.Tiffany E. Barber, Assistant Professor of African American Art at UCLA, demonstrates how these images breathe life into narratives that surpass formal records. Through collaborative observation and dialogue, attendees will investigate the ways Black photographers employ the camera to reveal deep connections between the environment, family ties, and cultural heritage spanning from Texas to Los Angeles and the broader American South.
Dr. Tiffany E. Barber is an award-winning scholar, curator, and critic whose work reshapes how we understand race, gender, and representation. A sought-after voice in contemporary art, culture, and fashion, her expert commentary spans academic journals, museum exhibitions, acclaimed documentaries, and major media outlets like The Nation, Huffington Post, Frieze, and Tate Etc. Currently Assistant Professor of African American Art at UCLA, Dr. Barber’s unique blend of art history, performance theory, and Black feminist thought inspires diverse audiences and institutions to advance new cultural futures. Her accolades include the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery Director’s Essay Prize; leadership roles at the International Journal of Surrealism, the Delaware Contemporary, the College Board, and the Black Speculative Arts Movement; and numerous fellowships. Her path-breaking exhibitions have been featured in Essence, The Brooklyn Rail, Surface Magazine, and Google Arts and Culture. Her debut monograph, Undesirability and Her Sisters: Black Women’s Visual Work and the Ethics of Representation (NYU Press, 2025), cements her reputation as a leading tastemaker and thinker of this generation.
KINSHIP & COMMUNITY: OPENING CONVERSATION WITH NICOLE R. FLEETWOOD AND LERONN P. BROOKS
Kinship & Community: Photowalk with Black Image Center
Artist Walkthrough: Rahim Fortune