6 Must-See U.S. Museum Shows for Black History Month

Exhibitions at LACMA, the Aspen Art Museum, the Gibbes Museum, and more celebrate Black artists and history.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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February marks Black History Month, and museums across the U.S. are featuring exhibitions showcasing the work of talented Black artists. From a retrospective of the late painter Noah Davis at the Pennsylvania Museum of Art to a celebration of Black women's role in shaping America's history at the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum, these shows offer a chance to explore the rich cultural heritage and artistic contributions of the Black community.

Why it matters

These exhibitions provide an opportunity to highlight the diverse perspectives and experiences of Black artists, whose work often grapples with themes of history, identity, and social justice. By showcasing these artists, the museums are helping to amplify underrepresented voices and expand the traditional narratives around American art and culture.

The details

The shows include a retrospective of the late Noah Davis at the Pennsylvania Museum of Art, a celebration of self-taught artist Minnie Evans at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, a Black feminist-focused exhibition at the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum in Annapolis, Maryland, a career-spanning survey of Leo Twiggs' Batik paintings at the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, South Carolina, an immersive multisensory installation by Tavares Strachan at LACMA in Los Angeles, and a retrospective of Glenn Ligon's prints, multiples, and works on paper at the Aspen Art Museum.

  • February marks the celebration of Black History Month.
  • The Noah Davis retrospective at the Pennsylvania Museum of Art is the final stop for this exhibition.
  • The Minnie Evans show at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta is her first major exhibition since the 1990s.
  • The Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum exhibition celebrates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S.
  • Leo Twiggs' retrospective at the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, South Carolina is his first in his home state.

The players

Noah Davis

A visionary painter and the founder of the Underground Museum in Los Angeles, who passed away at the age of 32.

Minnie Evans

A self-taught artist who made colorful drawings in the gatehouse at Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, North Carolina, where she worked as a ticket taker.

Martina Dodd

The curator of the exhibition at the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum in Annapolis, Maryland, which celebrates the role of Black women in shaping the nation's history.

Leo Twiggs

A 92-year-old artist known for his mastery of the Batik technique, whose work grapples with the history of racism against African Americans.

Tavares Strachan

An artist whose work delves into history to celebrate overlooked Black achievements, such as NASA's first Black astronaut, Robert Henry Lawrence Jr.

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The takeaway

By showcasing the work of Black artists, these museums are helping to expand the traditional narratives around American art and culture, and amplify underrepresented voices that have long been overlooked. These exhibitions offer a chance for visitors to engage with a rich and diverse artistic heritage, and to gain a deeper understanding of the Black experience in America.