The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art presents Black Women and Clay, a powerful exhibition that brings to light the remarkable but often overlooked contributions of Black female ceramic artists in Chicago. This groundbreaking show honors the legacy of pioneering artists while celebrating contemporary voices who have shaped the city's ceramic arts landscape.

The exhibition addresses a critical gap in art world recognition, as Black women artists represent less than 0.5% of museum acquisitions nationwide despite the Black population comprising 14% of the U.S. population. Black Women and Clay seeks to rectify this disparity by showcasing the exceptional talent, innovation, and cultural significance of Chicago's Black female ceramic sculptors.

Central to the exhibition's narrative is the legacy of Marva Lee Pitchford-Jolly, known as a transformative force in Chicago's ceramic arts community. After transitioning from social work to ceramics in 1981, Pitchford-Jolly taught at Chicago State University and mentored numerous Black artists including Juarez Hawkins and Malika Jackson. Her founding of the art collective "Sapphire and Crystals" in 1986 created essential community support for Black female artists. The exhibition also pays tribute to other influential figures including Eselean Goree Henderson, known as "The Clay Lady," who launched her ceramic career after retiring from teaching and studying at the Art Institute of Chicago in the 1970s. The exhibition also explores how these artists draw upon rich African ceramic traditions while addressing contemporary themes of identity, community, and social justice. The exhibition traces connections from masters like Ladi Kwali and Magdalene Odundo to Chicago's vibrant contemporary ceramic scene, highlighting how cultural heritage informs modern artistic expression.

Additionally, the exhibition addresses the unique challenges faced by Black women working in ceramics, from limited access to expensive equipment and studio space to confronting racism within predominantly white ceramic studios. These artists have persevered through systemic barriers while creating spaces for authentic artistic expression that centers Black experiences and perspectives. "My message that is good for about Black women, that is my specialty, that is somethingI want us to be about is success. We have nurtured everybody else's and not ours," said Marva Lee Pitchford-Jolly, whose words serve as inspiration for this exhibition. The artists in Black Women and Clay work to challenge commonly held stereotypes about Black artists, demonstrating that they are not a monolithic group creating uniform art.

Instead, the exhibition showcases the rich diversity of artistic voices, techniques, and perspectives within Chicago's Black female ceramic community. United by their shared commitment to creating in comfortable, accepting environments, these artists populate the art world with figures from their lives, histories, and spiritual hearts. Many of the featured artists grew up during an era when positive representations of Black artistic life were largely absent from mainstream media, museums, television, and movies. Through their ceramic works, they create the representation they wished to see, crafting powerful visual narratives that celebrate Black identity, culture, and experience. Building on Chicago's rich tradition of community-based Black arts initiatives dating back to the 1940s and the founding of the Southside Community Art Center–the first Black art institution in the U.S.–this exhibition continues the city's legacy of supporting marginalized voices and challenging traditional art world hierarchies.

About the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art

The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art (UIMA) preserves and promotes contemporary art as a shared expression of the Ukrainian and American experience. UIMA develops, utilizes and encourages artistic talent through exhibitions, concerts, readings, lectures and films to serve the cultural needs of our community and city, and thereby strengthen cultural understanding and diversity.