Family Portraits

Opening Reception: Friday, March 7, 5:30-8 p.m.
Show Run: March 7 – March 29, 2025

In Family Portraits, artist Ang R. Bennett celebrates the beauty, love, and tenderness of Black family life. Inspired by childhood memories of kindergarten storytime and adult moments sharing bedtime stories with their godchild, Bennett’s work captures shared experiences—siblings in playful embrace, a father imparting wisdom to his son, a mother affirming her daughter’s dreams. These intimate gestures depict Black joy, vulnerability, and connection, challenging stereotypes and reframing perceptions of Black families.

Bennett’s signature bold colors and radiant gold metal leaf create a language of warmth and reverence, symbolizing the sacredness of these interactions. The illustrative style, reminiscent of storybooks that shape early childhood, honors foundational moments of wonder, expression, and unguarded emotion.

With Family Portraits, Bennett reclaims the narrative, illuminating the humanity of Black lives. The exhibition invites viewers to reconnect with the stories that nurture us, shaping who we are and who we aspire to become.

Bio:
Ang R. Bennett is an Omaha-based self-taught artist who works primarily with acrylic and gold metal leaf. Their work has been showcased in exhibitions locally and regionally, with their most notable piece, “To the Ones We Forgot”, currently on display at the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center. Bennett’s art-making incorporates personal history and research, addressing themes of race, gender, and sexuality.