If you happen to go to the Barnes Foundation in the coming weeks and months, you might want to check out the new Freedom Dreams exhibition.

The new exhibit, which officially opened to the public on April 12, explores American history and culture through the lens of five Black artists — Arthur Jafa, David Hartt, Garrett Bradley, Ja’Tovia Gary, and Tourmaline.

These stories are displayed through video, film, and installations.

The exhibition, in many ways, pays homage to the museum’s founder, Dr. Albert Barnes, who was a visionary and pioneer.

“He was committed to racial equality and social justice. He believed that education was the cornerstone of a truly democratic society, and established a scholarship program to support young Black artists, musicians, and writers who sought to further their education at the Barnes and elsewhere,” Thomas Collins, Barnes’ executive director and president, said during a media preview on April 8. 

As America celebrates its 250th birthday this year, this exhibit explores the complex roles that Black resilience, resistance, and joy played in the nation’s founding.

“These works offer us an opportunity to explore… dismantle, and… pull back together narratives around race, gender, and class in American history,” said Freedom Dreams co-curator James Claiborne.

He added that Freedom Dreams also explores the way each of the five artists engage with the idea of cultural memory, as each of them have lived throughout different parts of the United States.

Viewers will also be able to see some of the connections among different generations of Black artists across disciplines, allowing them to reflect on a key question: What does liberation and freedom look like for Black Americans 250 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence?

Freedom Dreams will remain on display through August 9, 2026.