Freedom Dreams

Philadelphia, PA, January 22, 2026—In spring 2026, the Barnes Foundation will present Freedom Dreams, an exhibition of powerful works in film, video, and installation by an intergenerational cohort of Black artists interested in exploring history, archives, and cultural memory. The exhibition features works by Arthur Jafa, David Hartt, Garrett Bradley, Ja’Tovia Gary, and Tourmaline that dismantle pervasive narratives around race, gender, and class in American history. Love is the Message, The Message is Death (2016) by Arthur Jafa traces African American identity through a vast spectrum of found footage and contemporary imagery. Including photographs of Civil Rights–era leaders in the American South, helicopter footage taken during the Los Angeles uprisings in response to the Rodney King verdict in the 1990s, and YouTube social dance tutorials, the video compels viewers to examine the historical representation of Black bodies throughout American history. Runtime: 8:04 min. Exploring Black American history and identity,Freedom Dreams offers an opportunity to interrogate the complex histories of the United States in relationship to the identities and legacies the featured artists bring to light through their work. “We are proud to presentFreedom Dreams, an exhibition featuring the work of five renowned filmmakers whose work explores Black American history and identity,” says Thom Collins, Neubauer Family Executive Director and President of the Barnes.