Description

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum will organize and host “The Art of Transformation: Black Spirituality, Self-Expression, and Identity,” a panel discussion to accompany “Waters of the Abyss: An Intersection of Spirit and Freedom,” an exhibition of work by artist Fabiola Jean Louis set to open in February 2025. Aligning with the Gardner Museum’s commitment to fostering inclusive dialogues that connect historical art to contemporary issues, and engage diverse audiences in meaningful conversations about culture, spirituality, and identity, the panel will “explore the intersections of non-binary and queer identities within Afro-Diasporic spiritual and religious traditions, focusing on how these practices influence and empower self-expression and identity formation.” This grant from the Henry Luce Foundation’s Religion and Theology Program is being made in recognition of the longstanding leadership of Luce Program Director for American Art Teresa A. Carbone, and it extends from the Religion and Theology Program’s commitment to supporting creative approaches to public storytelling about faith and religion by artists, museums, and other knowledge makers.