Getty Publishes 'Black Curators Matter' Book Featuring Six Influential Curators
The Facts
On August 25, 2026, the Getty Research Institute announced the publication of 'Black Curators Matter: Conversations on Art and Change,' a volume edited by Kellie Jones and Tumelo Mosaka. The book draws on oral histories recorded between 2021 and 2023, bringing together conversations between curators Lowery Stokes Sims, Deborah Willis, Richard J. Powell, Jones, Thelma Golden, and Franklin Sirmans with a new generation of art professionals, including Getty curator LeRonn P. Brooks. Brooks interviewed Sirmans about topics including Harlem, mentorship, and hip-hop culture. A discussion by Jones and Willis, moderated by scholar Bridget R. Cooks, will take place September 28 at the Getty Center as part of the Black Portraiture[s]: Los Angeles conference hosted by NYU, Getty, and UCLA.
The Signal
The book underscores the role of Black curators in shaping cultural memory and archival practice, particularly within major research institutions like Getty. By foregrounding oral histories and the preservation of African American art, it highlights a deliberate institutional strategy to broaden the art historical canon. For curators and collectors, the volume signals a sustained commitment to documenting the networks and decisions that determine which artists and narratives enter the public record, reinforcing the importance of archival stewardship in an era of shifting institutional priorities.
The Morning Signal · Daily
Enjoying this? Get the daily wire.
The art world in one daily email — auctions, openings, and acquisitions from 90+ primary sources, distilled into a five-minute read. Independent — no marketplace, no gallery ads.
Join collectors, dealers & curators
No spam · free every morning · unsubscribe anytime
- People: LeRonn P. Brooks, Kellie Jones, Tumelo Mosaka, Lowery Stokes Sims, Deborah Willis, Richard J. Powell, Thelma Golden, Franklin Sirmans, Bridget R. Cooks
- Museums: Getty Research Institute, Getty Publications, Studio Museum in Harlem, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Pérez Art Museum Miami
- Locations: Los Angeles
The Morning Signal · Daily
Get stories like this in your inbox
The art world in one daily email — auctions, openings, and acquisitions from 90+ primary sources, distilled into a five-minute read. Independent — no marketplace, no gallery ads.
Join collectors, dealers & curators
No spam · free every morning · unsubscribe anytime
The Jobs Digest · Weekly
New art-world jobs, every Monday
The Jobs Digest rounds up the week’s new museum, gallery, and auction-house openings — with salary when disclosed. One email a week, unsubscribe anytime.
