The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art Opens First & Largest Exhibition of LGBTQ+ African Art

After nearly a year of frustrating delays, The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art has finally unveiled Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art. Curated by Kevin D. Dumouchelle and Serubiri Moses, the collection documents the thriving presence of queer African artistry, history, and culture. Here is the largest exhibition of African LGBTQ+ art to date, boasting nearly 60 artworks and 30 featured LGBTQ+ artists from across Africa and its diasporas.

In 2022, Dumouchelle, the museum’s curator and the co-curator of the exhibit, initially planned to publish a book about LGBTQ+ African artists for the Smithsonian. During his research, he realized this artistic community was wider than he anticipated. He later collaborated with fellow co-curator Moses to further develop the project. 

Over time, the book concept evolved into both a museum exhibition and a bigger book project. Complementing the Here exhibit is The Here Project: Pride and Belonging in African Art, a 264-page volume featuring “paintings, photography, digital art, fashion, installation and performance” celebrating the work of 70 LGBTQ+ African artists.

The exhibit was originally scheduled to open in late May to align with WorldPride DC 2025 and the celebration’s 50th anniversary. However, the exhibition was abruptly moved to “early winter 2026”. The delay came nearly 40 days after President Donald Trump issued a March 27, 2025, executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History”.

The directive calls for the revision or removal of material deemed as “divisive ideology” including discussions of race and gender identity, from “the Smithsonian Institution and its museums, education and research centers, and the National Zoo”. One of the proposed actions also seeks to restrict funding for exhibits or programs the Trump administration considers contrary to “American values”. 

“…prohibit expenditure on exhibits or programs that degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race, or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with Federal law and policy…” — The White House

The close timing between the delayed Smithsonian exhibit and the executive order targeting the institution has fueled speculation of potential influence from The White House. Despite this apparent coincidence, museum officials stated that the art exhibition’s postponement was due to budget concerns rather than the executive order. 

According to museum spokeswoman Jennifer Mitchell, the museum faced financial strain and scheduling challenges in their attempt to deliver the art collection in time for World Pride. 

In a statement made to The Washington Post, Mitchell says, “This exhibition was on a very ambitious schedule to meet World Pride, and we did not have enough time to secure all the private sector funds we had hoped to due to shifts in the fundraising environment.” 

Without delays, the exhibition would have run for one year and three months. However, Here will now be available to the public for about eight months, effectively cutting its display time by nearly half. 

Despite extensive setbacks, Here ultimately persisted. The exhibition serves as a counter to the notion that African societies lack histories of queerness, highlighting the range and significant LGBTQ+ presence across Africa. It aims to dispel the perception and serve as a beacon to show there is pride, belonging, and diversity in being African and queer. 

Located at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art in Washington D.C, Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art opened on January 23, 2026 and will be on view until August 23, 2026. 

The Here Project will be published September 15, 2026.