This Week in Art 7.17-7.23: North Carolina Museum of Art Dedicates Entire Wing to African Art

El Anatsui. Lines That Link Humanity (detail), 2008. Discarded aluminum and copper wire, (irregular); 18 x 25 ft. Gift of Barbara and Sam Wells. Courtesy of the North Carolina Museum of Art.

This summer the North Carolina Museum of Art finished a six-month project, dedicating an entire wing to art from Africa. Spanning sixteen centuries, the works on view range from a terracotta sculpture from 600 AD to a new site-specific chalk drawing by Nigerian-born artist Victor Ekpuk. Expanding the gallery space threefold, the average number of works on view grew from 65 to 125, including pieces that have not been exhibited for over a decade. Featured artists include Yinka Shonibare MBE (RA) and El Anatsui, whose 2008 wall sculpture Lines That Link Humanity was reinstalled in the expanded gallery space.

Also this week, designs were unveiled for Theaster Gates’s art installation at Chicago’s 95th Street station, which include a DJ booth and hanging tapestries titled america america, made of stitched-together, decommissioned fire hoses. Slated to open in late 2018, the installation will complement the new $280 million 95th Street bus and rail terminal.


Events & exhibitions

New York City

Pittsburgh

Louisville, KY

Aspen, CO

Malibu, CA

Los Angeles


Johannesburg

Hong Kong


It’s impossible to include all the incredible exhibitions and art events happening this week in a single post. If there’s something you feel should have been included in today’s roundup, leave a comment below!