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Moses Myers House

323 E. Freemason St.
Open Saturday and Sunday

Noon–5 p.m.

Jean Outland Chrysler Library

Reading Room
Wednesday-Friday
10 a.m.–5 p.m.

About the Myers House

The oldest Jewish home in America open to the public as a museum offers a glimpse of the life of an early 19th century merchant family.
More about the house

About the Library

With an extensive collection of more than 106,000 rare and unique volumes relating to the history of art, the Jean Outland Chrysler Art Library is one of the most significant art libraries in the South. More about the library

Located in Norfolk

One Memorial Place,
Norfolk, VA
Get Directions

While You're Here

Visit our Museum Shop
and Zinnia Cafe.

Perry Glass Studio

A state-of-art facility on the Museum’s campus. See a free glassmaking demo Tuesdays–Sunday at noon. Like what you see? Take a class with us! More about the Studio

The Myers House

The home of the first permanent Jewish residents of Norfolk, this historic house offers a glimpse of the life of a wealthy early 19th-century merchant family.
More about the house

Jean Outland Chrysler Library

With an extensive collection of more than 106,000 rare and unique volumes relating to the history of art, the Jean Outland Chrysler Library is one of the most significant art libraries in the South. More about the Library

Wedding & Event Rentals

The perfect place for your big day or special event. Get the details

In-person Tours

Group tours are available for groups of 20 or fewer. More about tours

Jean Outland Chrysler Library

Visit one of the most significant art libraries in the South. More about the library

About the Chrysler

Our story spans well over 100 years. See where we began, how we grew, and where we're going. Explore our history

News and Announcements

See what's happening at the Museum, read Chrysler Magazine, and find our Media Center. Read now

Location

One Memorial Place
Norfolk, VA 23510

Location

745 Duke Street
Norfolk, VA 23510
757-333-6299

Always Free Parking

Get Directions

Visiting Artist Series

Bringing the world’s top glass art talent to Hampton Roads
Find out more

Studio Team

Meet the brilliant minds behind the Studio.
See the team

Give the Chrysler Experience

Share everything you love about the Chrysler Museum with a gift membership. Perfect for everyone on your list.

The Masterpiece Society

Learn about this innovative group of museum supporters.
Meet the Masterpiece Society

Planned Giving

Help ensure the long-term success of the Museum.
Learn about planned giving

Moses Myers House

323 E. Freemason St.
Open Saturday and Sunday

Noon–5 p.m.

Jean Outland Chrysler Library

Reading Room
Wednesday-Friday
10 a.m.–5 p.m.

About the Myers House

The oldest Jewish home in America open to the public as a museum offers a glimpse of the life of an early 19th century merchant family.
More about the house

About the Library

With an extensive collection of more than 106,000 rare and unique volumes relating to the history of art, the Jean Outland Chrysler Art Library is one of the most significant art libraries in the South. More about the library

Located in Norfolk

One Memorial Place,
Norfolk, VA
Get Directions

While You're Here

Visit our Museum Shop
and Zinnia Cafe.

Perry Glass Studio

A state-of-art facility on the Museum’s campus. See a free glassmaking demo Tuesdays–Sunday at noon. Like what you see? Take a class with us! More about the Studio

The Myers House

The home of the first permanent Jewish residents of Norfolk, this historic house offers a glimpse of the life of a wealthy early 19th-century merchant family.
More about the house

Jean Outland Chrysler Library

With an extensive collection of more than 106,000 rare and unique volumes relating to the history of art, the Jean Outland Chrysler Library is one of the most significant art libraries in the South. More about the Library

Wedding & Event Rentals

The perfect place for your big day or special event. Get the details

In-person Tours

Group tours are available for groups of 20 or fewer. More about tours

Jean Outland Chrysler Library

Visit one of the most significant art libraries in the South. More about the library

About the Chrysler

Our story spans well over 100 years. See where we began, how we grew, and where we're going. Explore our history

News and Announcements

See what's happening at the Museum, read Chrysler Magazine, and find our Media Center. Read now

Location

One Memorial Place
Norfolk, VA 23510

Location

745 Duke Street
Norfolk, VA 23510
757-333-6299

Always Free Parking

Get Directions

Visiting Artist Series

Bringing the world’s top glass art talent to Hampton Roads
Find out more

Studio Team

Meet the brilliant minds behind the Studio.
See the team

Give the Chrysler Experience

Share everything you love about the Chrysler Museum with a gift membership. Perfect for everyone on your list.

The Masterpiece Society

Learn about this innovative group of museum supporters.
Meet the Masterpiece Society

Planned Giving

Help ensure the long-term success of the Museum.
Learn about planned giving

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ArtExhibitionsPast

Black Orpheus: Jacob Lawrence and the Mbari Club

On View

October 7, 2022 — January 8, 2023

Location

Special Exhibition Galleries

Jacob Lawrence, Market Scene
Jacob Lawrence (American, 1917–2000), Market Scene, 1966, Gouache on paper, Chrysler Museum of Art, Museum purchase, 2018.22, © 2022 The Jacob and Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence Foundation, Seattle / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Black Orpheus: Jacob Lawrence and the Mbari Club

will explore the connection between African American artist Jacob Lawrence and his contemporaries based in the Global South through the Nigerian journal Black Orpheus.

The exhibition features over 125 objects, including Lawrence’s little-known 1964–65 Nigeria series, works by the artists featured in Black Orpheus, archival images, videos, and letters.

The Mbari Artists & Writers Club was an artistic organization of Nigerian-based artists, writers, and dramatists promoting modern African and international artistic practice. The core of the exhibition centers on the Mbari arts and culture magazine Black Orpheus (1957–67). The publication was one of the main vehicles for circulating fictional and non-fictional writings by African and African Diaspora writers. It also included reviews of international visual artists from throughout the African continent, India, Brazil, Japan, Austria, U.S., and Germany. Mbari also had galleries in Lagos, Ibadan and Osogbo, Nigeria, presenting the work of many of these artists, including Jacob Lawrence, William H. Johnson, Ibrahim El-Salahi, Uche Okeke, Malangantana Ngwenya, Jacob Afolabi, Colette Oluwabamise Omogbai, Francis Newton Souza, Twins Seven-Seven, Wilson Tibério, Genaro de Carvalho, Agnaldo Manoel dos Santos, Susanne Wenger, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, Demas Nwoko, and Avinash Chandra, among others.

 

 

Cover of Black Orpheus Journal #2, January 1958, Jean Outland Chrysler Library, Chrysler Museum of Art
A vibrant painting of a Nigerian market scene by Jacob Lawrence
Jacob Lawrence (American, 1917–2000), Street to Mbari, 1964, Tempera over graphite on wove paper, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Gift of Mr. and Mrs. James T. Dyke, 1993.18.1, © 2022 The Jacob and Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence Foundation, Seattle / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Exhibition co-curators Kimberli Gant, PhD, the Brooklyn Museum’s curator of modern & contemporary art and Ndubuisi Ezeluomba, PhD, the VMFA’s curator of African art, address how the featured artists grappled with representing their respective national and cultural identities while depicting visually striking works during the beginning of postcolonial period throughout the African continent and other parts of the world. The resulting objects were meant to resonate with both local communities and connect with broader Eurocentric notions of modernity.

 

 

Alexander "Skunder" Boghossian (Ethiopian, 1937–2003) Untitled, 1966 Oil on canvas Chrysler Museum of Art, Museum purchase 2020.32

The exhibition continues:

New Orleans Museum of Art February 10–May 7, 2023
Toledo Museum of Art June 3–September 3, 2023

Black Orpheus: Jacob Lawrence and the Mbari Club is co-organized by the Chrysler Museum of Art and the New Orleans Museum of Art.

With support from

 

 

Join us!

Exhibition Programming

Highest Heaven Exhibition Opening Party at The Chrysler Museum of Art
Thursday, Oct. 6–Member Preview

Museum members are invited to celebrate the exhibition premiere. RSVP

Wednesday, Nov. 2–Teacher Workshop

Discuss ways cultural identity appears in artmaking and in the classroom and explore strategies to encourage collaboration. Register

Thursday, Nov. 3–Tickle My Ears

Read Baby Goes to Market and create an artwork inspired by the exhibition. Ages 2-5 Details

A vibrant painting of a Nigerian market scene by Jacob Lawrence
Thursday, Nov. 10–Black Prometheus Marketplace at Norfolk State

Performances, an exhibition of prints made by artists inspired by Jacob Lawrence, an art-making activity, and vendors selling African goods and food. Get tickets

Blue Forget Me Not flowers embroidered on green fabric
Friday, Nov. 11–Art Matters

Art Matters is a free program presented in partnership with the Southeastern Virginia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. To register, please call 800-272-3900.

Jacob Lawrence, Market Scene
Saturday, Dec. 3–African Journeys: ‘Positive SHOCK’ and the African American Artist

Join Dr. Leslie King-Hammond, PhD, for an engaging look at the impact travel to the African continent had on African American artists. Get tickets

A vibrant painting of a Nigerian market scene by Jacob Lawrence
Wednesday, Dec. 7–Mbari Night at the Chrysler

Immerse yourself in West African traditions through music, dance, fashion, cuisine, and a live performance of Egungun Masquerade. Get tickets

Take the Exhibition Home

Shop during your Museum visit or from home. More items coming soon!

Shop online

More special exhibitions

On view right now

Jacket and shorts set made out of candy wrappers
Through April 28, 2024

Peers: Mixed Media Work and the Tenth Annual Wearable Arts Exhibition
Exhibition Details

Painting of parents and child on floral background
Through March 31, 2024

Hampton Roads Student Gallery
Exhibition Details