Exhibitions
Upcoming Exhibit
SHE SPEAKS: BLACK WOMEN ARTISTS AND THE POWER OF HISTORICAL MEMORY
DATES: FEBRUARY 7, 2026 – JANUARY 16, 2027
CURATOR: MARTINA DODD
CURATORIAL SUPPORT: LESLIE ROSE
| The Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum proudly announces its newest exhibition, She Speaks: Black Women Artists and the Power of Historical Memory–a visionary presentation that examines the 250-year history of the United States of America through a Black Feminist lens. This exhibition brings together a powerful constellation of contemporary Maryland-based and internationally recognized Black women artists whose deeply personal and politically charged works bear witness to the past, illuminate its impact on the present, and conjure Afrofuturist visions. Through a diverse range of media—including collage, painting, print, photography, textile, installation, and time-based media—She Speaks acknowledges Black women as active participants in the making of this country rather than passive bystanders, highlighting artists who operate as historians, archivists, and scholars to tell their stories. Presented alongside rarely seen archival materials and family heirlooms, the exhibition highlights the pivotal role Black women have played in shaping and preserving this nation since the Revolutionary era, while envisioning liberated futures through cosmic speculation. Featured artists include Elizabeth Catlett, Alanna Fields, Dr. Joan M. E. Gaither, Charlyn Griffith-Oro, Khaleelah I. L. Harris, Martha Jackson Jarvis, Fabiola Jean-Louis, Jeannine Kayembe-Oro, Zsudayka Nzinga, Ada Pinkston, Beverly Price, Faith Ringgold, Noreen Smith, Darlene R. Taylor, Jessica Valoris, Savannah G. M. Wood, and Alisha B. Wormsley. As the nation collectively commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence through coordinated national, Maryland 250, and Annapolis 250 initiatives, this exhibition enters the conversation by expanding how American history is remembered and told. By retracing and reinterpreting these histories through the voices of Black women, the exhibition challenges audiences to consider whose stories have been preserved, and whose have yet to be fully recognized. She Speaks is curated by Martina Dodd, BDTM Curator of Collections and Exhibitions, with curatorial support from Leslie Rose, Exhibit Manager. Lending institutions include Academy Art Museum, Galerie Myrtis, Howard University Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., James E. Lewis Museum of Art, and Reginald F. Lewis Museum. She Speaks will open to the public with an Opening Reception and Black History Month celebration on Saturday, February 7, 2026. The exhibition will remain on view through January 16, 2027, with interpretive programming offered throughout the year to further engage with the exhibition’s themes of history, memory, resistance, and Black women’s enduring contributions to the nation’s cultural and civic life. |
Press Kit
- PRESS RELEASE: ‘She Speaks’ Centers Black Women as Keepers of History and Architects of the Future in New Exhibition Commemorating America’s 250th Anniversary (December 19, 2025)
- Dropbox Folder with Hi-Res Images & Graphics
Disclaimer
By downloading images you are agreeing to the following permissions: Images are provided exclusively to the press, and only for purposes of publicity of the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum’s current and upcoming exhibitions, programs, and news announcements. Permission to use images is granted only to the extent of the Museum’s ownership rights relating to those images—the responsibility for any additional permissions remains solely with the party reproducing the images. The images must be accompanied by the credit line and the party reproducing the images must not distort or mutilate the images.
Explore the charm of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County—rich in culture, art, cuisine, and history—plan your adventure today!
Past Exhibit
SACRED SPACES
DATES: FEBRUARY 8, 2025 – JANUARY 3, 2026 *NOW EXTENDED*
FEATURED ARTIST: JABARI JEFFERSON
CURATOR: MARTINA DODD
| As seen in Ebony.com, NYTimes.com, The Washington Post, What’s Up? Annapolis Magazine and more! The Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum proudly presents ‘Sacred Spaces,’ a solo exhibition showcasing the work of Jabari Jefferson, curated by Martina Dodd, Curator of Collections & Exhibitions, opening on February 8, 2025. This exhibition will debut never-before-seen works on canvas, striking sculptures, and a large-scale community installation created in collaboration with local Annapolis students and residents. Through his innovative approach to oil paint, mixed media, and augmented reality, Jefferson masterfully transforms salvaged materials, including textiles, books, soil, and clothing, into provocative artworks that challenge our notions of value and disposability. This new body of work by Jefferson is a powerful meditation on history, memory, and the continuing power of Black cultural spaces. By drawing parallels between the throwaway culture of fast fashion and the historical marginalization of Black scholarship, Jefferson exposes systematic patterns of devaluation. His practice serves a dual purpose: breathing new life into discarded materials while asserting the fundamental importance of Black intellectual and spiritual traditions. THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS We are so grateful to our supporters of this exhibition: BGE, Maryland Humanities, The Links Inc. Annapolis Chapter, Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County, PNC Bank, Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture, Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum Foundation, and Friends of Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum. |
Exhibition extension and upcoming holiday closure: We’re excited to share that Sacred Spaces will continue welcoming visitors through January 3, 2026. The museum will take a brief holiday pause from December 24–January 1, reopening on January 2 so you can experience the exhibition into the new year.
The exhibit catalog for Sacred Spaces is now available! The ‘Sacred Spaces’ exhibition catalog serves as a rich companion to Jabari Jefferson’s debut museum exhibition. The volume features seven essays by esteemed scholars, curators, and cultural preservationists that explore themes of memory, preservation, spirituality, and the resilience of Black cultural traditions.
Contributors include: Kali-Ashet Amen, Ph.D, Martina Dodd, Stevenson A. Dunn, Clare Gemima, Chanel C. Johnson, Taylor Means, Jaelon Moaney, and teddy raShaan, Ph.D. Complementing these essays is an in-depth interview with the artist, offering readers a personal window into Jefferson’s creative process, influences, and vision for the future of sacred Black spaces. The catalogue is further brought to life with vibrant photographs of Jefferson’s artworks, striking installation views from the exhibition, and archival images drawn from the museum’s collection that contextualize the show within a longer legacy of cultural preservation.
Recent Press
- Maryland Public Television (MPT) Artworks, The Art of Sacred Spaces (October 2025)
- WETA Arts, “WETA Arts October 2025” (October 2025)
- MadameNoire, “‘Sacred Spaces,’ Sacred Stories — How 1 Artist And 1 Museum Are Reclaiming Black History [Exclusive]” (August 2025)
- Whitehot Magazine, “Jabari Jefferson’s Sacred Spaces at Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum Annapolis, Maryland” (June 2025)
- The New York Times, “36 Hours in Annapolis, Md.” (May 2025)
- EBONY, “The Artist Speaks: Jabari Jefferson On Being a Superhero” (May 2025)
- WJZ TV “‘Sacred Spaces’ exhibit in Annapolis museum honors legacies of prominent Black Marylanders” (February 2025)
- WMAR-2 News, “‘Sacred Spaces’ exhibit shows the power of Black history with recycled materials” (February 2025)
- WBAL TV, “New ‘Sacred Spaces’ exhibit highlights stories of Black history” (February 2025)
- What’s Up? Annapolis Magazine, “Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum Shines” (February 2025)
Press Kit
- Press Release: “The Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum Presents “Sacred Spaces” featuring Jabari Jefferson: A Groundbreaking Exhibition Honoring African American Heritage and Sustainability Opens February 2025” (December 23, 2024)
- Hi-Res Images of Artwork and Logos- Sacred Spaces
Disclaimer
By downloading images you are agreeing to the following permissions: Images are provided exclusively to the press, and only for purposes of publicity of the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum’s current and upcoming exhibitions, programs, and news announcements. Permission to use images is granted only to the extent of the Museum’s ownership rights relating to those images—the responsibility for any additional permissions remains solely with the party reproducing the images. The images must be accompanied by the credit line and the party reproducing the images must not distort or mutilate the images.
Headshots
Current Exhibit
Saved: The Spirit and Survival of Mt. Moriah AME Church
Guest Curator: Olivia Jones,
Summer 2025 Walter B. Hill Fellow and Spelman College Class of 2026
| Saved: The Spirit and Survival of Mt. Moriah AME Church is our latest mini exhibition tucked away within the permanent gallery. Curated by Olivia Jones, 2025 Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum Summer Intern and Spelman College Class of 2026. This powerful exhibition explores Mt. Moriah’s central role in African-American life and the congregation’s transformative work to preserve Black history in Annapolis. Before 1838, Black Methodist Annapolitans worshiped in segregated spaces, denied leadership and access. Their fight for equality led to the founding of Mt. Moriah AME in 1874 on land once owned by the descendants of manumitted landowner Charity Folks. Nearly a century later, the church again became a symbol of resistance when its congregation rallied to save it from demolition—an act that ultimately gave birth to the museum we know today. A public outcry ensued, and the congregation launched the ‘Save Mount Moriah Campaign,’ building on the civic engagement from a century before. An injunction later saved the church from demolition, and the building was leased to the Commission on Negro History and Culture (now known as the Maryland Commission on African American History & Culture). In 1984, Mt. Moriah reopened its doors as the Banneker-Douglass Museum and was renamed to the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum in 2024. “Saved” is a double entendre, reflecting both Mt. Moriah’s spiritual mission to uplift souls and the congregation’s civic efforts to save the church. Through artifacts, photos, and documents, this exhibit highlights their role in preserving Mt. Moriah A.M.E. and Black Annapolis history. |
Permanent Exhibit
Deep Roots, Rising Waters:
A Celebration of African Americans in Maryland
Deep Roots, Rising Waters offers a comprehensive look at African American history in Maryland, spanning from 1633 to the 1960’s. Discover the influence of Black Marylanders on both state and national levels, while also uncovering the stories of lesser-known but equally significant individuals who shaped the Chesapeake region.
Past Exhibit
- Learn the story of Mathias De Sousa, Maryland’s first known colonist of African descent.
- Discover how Benjamin Banneker utilized his almanac as a strategic protest against slavery in his correspondence with Thomas Jefferson.
- Examine the historical advertisement for the auction where Kunta Kinte was sold into slavery.
- Listen to a powerful speech by Frederick Douglass as he condemned racism and slavery in America.
- Uncover the many ways Black women liberated themselves from captivity by learning about Harriet Tubman’s leadership on the Underground Railroad and Lear Green’s courageous act of shipping herself to freedom.
- Explore Maryland’s connection to Arctic exploration through the pioneering achievements of Matthew Henson and Herbert Frisby.
- Experience the rich cultural history of Carr’s Beach and Sparrow’s Beach through stories and music from these iconic African American spots of leisure.
- Learn about Thurgood Marshall’s relentless fight to dismantle segregation and transform the U.S. education system.
- Discover Gloria Richardson’s fearless activism and leadership in the Cambridge Nonviolent Action Committee, whose efforts ultimately expanded access to job training, housing, and education in Cambridge, Maryland, and beyond.
Past Exhibits
REVISIT/REIMAGINE
The Civil Rights Era in Maryland and Parallels of Today
FEBRUARY 24, 2024 – JANUARY 4, 2025
GUEST CURATOR: THOMAS JAMES
A Story to tell
Celebrating Black Art & Literacy in Maryland
NOVEMBER 8, 2023 – JANUARY 5, 2024
ARTIST: Ernest Shaw, Jr.
GUEST CURATOR: Chanel C. Johnson
The Radical Voice of Blackness Speaks of Resistance and joy
SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 – SEPTEMBER 30, 2023
GUEST CURATOR: Myrtis Bedolla
| Freedom Bound: Runaways of the Chesapeake | September 18, 2021 – March 1, 2022 |
| The Black Vote Mural Project | February 15, 2020 – August 31, 2021 |
| Doing the Work: Celebrating 50 Years of the MCAAHC | August 10 – December 28, 2019 |
| Verda’s Place: An Homage to a Valiant Woman | March 8 – December 28, 2019 |
| Songs of the Caged Bird | January 12 – June 8, 2019 |
| Laurence Hurst Anniversary Show | January 12 – June 8, 2019 |
| Douglass Reading Room | July 5, 2018 – February 28, 2019 |
2009 – 2016 Exhibits – click here
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