Celebration of Black womxn at ICA San Francisco

ICA San Francisco is proud to announce Resting Our Eyes, an exhibition curated by Tahirah Rasheed and Autumn Breon, on view from January 21–June 25, 2023. Focusing on the celebration of Black womxn through the lens of leisure and physical adornment, Resting Our Eyes features new and existing works from 20 multi-generational Black artists working across sculpture, photography, video, mixed media, painting, and textile.

Through embodied experiences of space and temporality, spectrums of abstraction and representation, these artists contend with the limitations and failures of the colonial gaze by casting Black womxn at the center of their visions through rest and ornamentation. Collectively, these works invite us to see Black womxn as fully realized and free. Resting Our Eyes features work by Derrick Adams, Sadie Barnette, Traci Bartlow, Knowledge Bennett, LaKela Brown, Genevieve Gaignard, Ja’Tovia Gary, Lauren Halsey, Simone Leigh, Helina Metaferia, Ebony G. Patterson, Alison Saar, Lorna Simpson, Hank Willis Thomas, Lava Thomas, Mickalene Thomas, Adana Tillman, Leila Weefur, Carrie Mae Weems, and Deborah Willis.

With their combined experiences as curators, artists, and organizers, co-curators Tahirah Rasheed, based in Oakland, and Autumn Breon, based in Los Angeles, intend to communicate and affirm a tenet of Black feminist theory that proposes beauty (self adornment), rest and self-expression as radical and necessary acts.

The opening reception will feature remarks by Dr. Leigh Raiford, a spoken word performance by Porsche Veu “The Poet Activist,” music by DJ Red Corvette and food by Chef Sarah Kirnon. The co-curators partnered with Sucre Couture founder Kimberley Fomby for the exhibition to design a revolutionary and intentional collection of gold statement pieces to be revealed on January 18 at sucrecouture.com, and collaborated with Temescal Brewing on a soft and easy-drinking Kölsch for the opening.

This exhibition was produced in partnership with Phillips, which has committed to supporting the Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco for the next three years.

“It’s an honor to have the opportunity to work alongside the ICA SF in helping to amplify their important mission, which aligns so closely with the values and priorities Phillips holds itself,” Sophia Kinell, Phillips’ Regional Representative in San Francisco, said. “The ICA has breathed new energy and vibrancy into the Bay Area community, and we’re so excited to partner with them in presenting to the public a series of exhibitions as compelling and meaningful as Resting Our Eyes.”