The Getty’s new exhibition, Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955–1985, celebrates the work of photographers, painters, graphic designers, and multimedia artists who sought to capture and express the community, identity, and culture forged through the struggle for freedom.

The gallery unfolds across eight sections, featuring more than 150 artworks by 100 artists. Each brings a distinct perspective, together forming a powerful and cohesive portrait of Black shared experience and cultural expression.

Portraits and self-portraits challenge and reframe mass media depictions of Black life, fostering empathy while revealing authentic expressions, concerns, and individuality. Many works explore creative experimentation through rich forms of expression with deep shadows and dark tonalities, inviting viewers to engage with new ways of seeing. Photographs of protests and demonstrations convey both the courage of those who fought and the hardships they endured. Paired with intimate scenes of everyday life in Black communities, these images reveal a fuller narrative of pride, resilience, and humanity.

Now on view through June 14, the exhibition stands as a compelling reminder of how artists harness their voices to inspire change, preserve history, and celebrate community.