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CINCINNATI— Paloozanoire’s Black & Brown Faces will return to the Cincinnati Art Museum this spring in a new presentation titled Paying Homage To, on view from March 25–June 19.

Rico Grant and Ray Ball, Co-Founders of Paloozanoire, organized the exhibition to build on the structure of the inaugural 2020 show, which commissioned 10 Black artists who depicted the emotional extremes of 2020, with the goal of facilitating a process of community healing from the upheaval of the year using art and connection as a catalyst.

This year, Black & Brown Faces: Paying Homage To expands to include 15 Midwestern artists of color, each recognizing 15 sung and unsung Cincinnati leaders, all individuals of color driving change in their community, disrupting the norm, and lifting others through their work. Each artist will create their interpretation of a portrait to pay homage to these honorees.

“Black & Brown Faces was created to uplift artists of color around the Midwest with a strong focus on Cincinnati-based artists,” said Grant. “We understand the importance of representation and our partnership with The Cincinnati Art Museum has allowed us to amplify our mission beyond our wildest dreams,” said Grant. “What we have created with this exhibition run with the support of the artist community, business community and those who come in bundles to experience this exhibition is even greater,” said Grant. “For that reason, we are grateful to do the work.”

“This partnership with Paloozanoire is an amazing expression of the kind of work we are excited to do in our city,” said Megan Nauer, Cincinnati Art Museum site coordinator for the exhibition. “We hope that by bringing artists and change-makers of all kinds together in the museum in support of Paloozanoire’s vision, we can continue to demonstrate the power of art to connect communities and act as a catalyst for inclusion and joy.”

Black & Brown Faces: Paying Homage To is free to attend, and open to the public in the Schiff Gallery at the Cincinnati Art Museum. The exhibition will open to the public with a celebration during the museum’s Art After Dark event on Friday, March 25, with music and performances from the local arts community from 5–9 p.m.

Black & Brown Faces is supported by our business and philanthropic community, with sponsors and partners including Procter & Gamble, Kroger, ArtsWave, Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Scripps, JP Morgan Chase, Frost Brown Todd, First Financial Bank, Paycor, Ulmer.

About Paloozanoire

Paloozanoire was founded in 2019 to focus on enriching the lives of people of color throughout the Midwest in the areas of corporate leadership, entrepreneurship, and creativity. Quickly gaining the support of the community Paloozanoire has now produced events and activations catering to more than 20,000 attendees. The group’s two main attractions are Black & Brown Faces Art Exhibition and Juneteenth Block Party Experience, both housed in Cincinnati, OH. www.paloozanoire.com

About the Cincinnati Art Museum
The Cincinnati Art Museum is supported by the generosity of individuals and businesses that give annually to ArtsWave. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Cincinnati Art Museum with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The Cincinnati Art Museum gratefully acknowledges operating support from the City of Cincinnati, as well as our members. Free general admission to the Cincinnati Art Museum is made possible by a gift from The Rosenthal Family Foundation. Special exhibition pricing may vary. Parking at the Cincinnati Art Museum is free. Visit cincinnatiartmuseum.org for more information.

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