Black Spaces: Reclaim & Remain — Now Open at OMCA!
The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) proudly announces the opening of Black Spaces: Reclaim & Remain, a powerful new exhibition exploring the resilience, creativity, and community of Black Americans across Oakland and the East Bay. This summer’s must-see experience invites visitors to dive into stories of resistance and belonging—told through historic objects, vibrant artworks, and new commissions by local artists and activists.
Marion Coleman, Country Club Nights, 2014. Textile and mixed media. Courtesy of the Hayward Area Historical Society, gift of the Coleman-Jongewaard Family.
Black Spaces centers on the rich histories of two East Bay communities, Russell City and West Oakland, places where Black residents have historically carved out homes, cultural hubs, and networks of care in the face of displacement and systemic oppression. Visitors encounter an immersive journey through three themes: Homeplace, Social Fabric, and Dispossession and Repair. Historic photos, personal keepsakes, and firsthand accounts celebrate Black migration, community life, and cultural vibrancy—from lively jazz venues to Black-owned businesses—while also confronting the legacies of redevelopment and systemic Black displacement.
Adam P. Susaneck, Oakland: Freeways and Urban Renewal, 1968. Reproduction courtesy of Adam P. Susaneck, Segregation by Design.
Alongside OMCA’s extensive collection, Black Spaces features dynamic new work by collaborators including artist Adrian Burrell, whose multimedia bottle tree sculpture pulses with memories of West Oakland block parties and family traditions. Architect June Grant brings visionary ideas for equitable urban futures, overlaying Oakland’s redlining history with proposals for inclusive city design. The Archive of Urban Futures teams up with grassroots group Moms 4 Housing to highlight ongoing struggles and activism around housing justice, offering an intimate look inside a reclaimed West Oakland home.
David Solnit, Community Support Outside of Magnolia House, Jan 2020. Reproduction courtesy of David Solnit and Moms 4 Housing.
“We are honored to bring Black Spaces to OMCA as a meditation on how Black communities continue to create spaces of belonging and resistance despite systemic challenges,” says Dania Talley, OMCA’s Associate Curator of History. Executive Director Lori Fogarty adds, “The voices and stories in this exhibition invite us all to reflect on reclaiming and reimagining home.”
Don’t miss this extraordinary exhibition—Black Spaces: Reclaim & Remain is officially open and ready to welcome you! Step inside, listen deeply, and witness the enduring strength of Black spaces in Oakland and beyond.
