News

“​​Spirit in Motion: Activating the Contemporary African Masquerade” by Creative Assembly member Carl Harrison Jr.

2024-2025 Creative Assembly artist-in-residence Carl Harrison Jr. wrote an essay reflecting on his experiences engaging with the works and themes of the recent exhibition New African Masquerades: Artistic Innovations and Collaborations across various events at the museum, including July’s Salon Supper Club. Read the full essay below. Spirit in Motion: Activating the Contemporary African Masquerade… Read More

Dawoud Bey: Elegy Explores Early African American Experiences as Imagined through Historical Landscapes

This month, the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) opens the highly anticipated exhibition Dawoud Bey: Elegy, on view at the museum September 26, 2025—January 4, 2026. A profound exploration of early experiences of African Americans in the United States, the groundbreaking survey, organized by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, marks the comprehensive exhibition of three photographic series and two film installations by renowned contemporary artist Dawoud Bey. Read More

Educator Guide for New African Masquerades: Artistic Innovations and Collaborations

This New African Masquerades: Artistic Innovations and Collaborations Educator Guide includes introductions to the four major artists highlighted in this special exhibition, plus additional resources (including image and video links, as well as a curriculum standards overview) to support learning around the exhibition’s contents. Reflective questions, classroom activities, and a “Community + Collections Connection” section help students draw parallels between West African masquerades, other collaborative art forms, New Orleans arts and cultures, and their own lives. Read More

Gallery Talk with Brian Piper on Show & Tell: A Brief History of Photography and Text

On December 11th, NOMA’s Freeman Family Curator of Photographs, Prints, and Drawings, Brian Piper, opened up the floor for a tour and conversation on Show & Tell: A Brief History of Photography and Text. With photographs dating back to the 19th century, Piper dissected the relationship between photography that includes text.  Throughout the gallery talk,… Read More

Recap | Elders Sacred Talks Series with the Congo Square Preservation Society

On August 21, the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) hosted a film screening and discussion event centered around the documentary Katrina Babies, directed by Edward Buckles Jr. This powerful film, which provides an intimate look at the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and its enduring impact on the youth of New Orleans, marked an important occasion in remembrance of the hurricane’s 19th anniversary. Read More

Video and Recap: Katrina Babies with the Filmmakers at NOMA

On August 21, the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) hosted a film screening and discussion event centered around the documentary Katrina Babies, directed by Edward Buckles Jr. This powerful film, which provides an intimate look at the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and its enduring impact on the youth of New Orleans, marked an important occasion in remembrance of the hurricane’s 19th anniversary. Read More