KEEPERS: Gabriel Tenabe and James Phillips

April 6th, 2025 through May 4th, 2025

Opening Reception: Sunday, April 6th, 2-5 PM Artists Talk: Sunday, April 27th, 2PM

KEEPERS

KEEPERS OF THE CULTURE: James Philips and Gabriel Sunday Tenabe

The exhibition endeavors to represent the intersectionality between the two artists as demonstrated by their careers and creative practice, engage their knowledge and approach to artmaking, discover common denominators in their contemplations of spirituality and power, and celebrate their dedication and contributions to their genre.

The groundbreaking 2023 exhibition AFRICAN MODERNISM IN AMERICA, organized by Fisk University Galleries, was a historic statement of the enduring global influence of African arts, and 20th century African artists. Inspired by this important exhibition, and acknowledging this unique influence on African American culture, KEEPERS convenes a visual dialogue between two icons of cultural guardianship — artists/educators, Gabriel Tenable and James Phillips. Their voices articulate a shared reverence for the artistic contributions of West African societies and relative trans-Atlantic imprints. They share a mutual recognition of a “higher power” and the dynamic of “power” as a social construct.

Acclaimed by careers spanning more than half a century, painters Tenabe and Phillips have dedicated research and innovative practices to examine the politics of colonialism, the collective memory of tradition and diasporic thought, visual language, and Modernism. KEEPERS highlights paintings that were created during the past 50 years, and challenges preconceived notions that define ‘traditional’ and ‘futuristic’ expression.