This spring, Atlanta art exhibits continue to position the city as one of the country’s top emerging cultural destinations. With major art exhibits across the city — from university galleries to converted warehouses — the local arts scene is growing in both visibility and ambition. Two standout shows in April highlight not only the city’s depth of creative talent but also its growing appeal as a national arts hub: “We Say What Black This Is” at the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art and “The Black Boy Art Show” at Guardian Works.
These exhibitions differ in tone and format but are connected by their Atlanta roots, their shared celebration of Black creativity, and their contributions to a larger cultural shift. Together, they illustrate how the city’s art scene is evolving, driven by new voices, regional pride and a willingness to break from tradition.
Amanda Williams Headlines at Spelman College Museum of Fine Art
Running through May 24, “We Say What Black This Is” puts the spotlight on Chicago-based artist Amanda Williams, a 2022 MacArthur “genius grant” recipient known for her interdisciplinary explorations of color, space, and race. The Spelman College Museum of Fine Art presents her “What Black Is This, You Say?” series alongside a newly commissioned abstract painting and student-curated contributions.
Originally conceived in response to the 2020 Blackout Tuesday movement, Williams’ project uses color theory as a lens to challenge reductive views of Black identity. Her work, through nuanced titles and striking palettes, invites viewers to consider how Blackness is defined, interpreted and lived. The pieces are accompanied by interpretive labels written by Spelman students, making the show as much about process and dialogue as presentation.
The museum itself is located in the Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby Academic Center at Spelman, one of the nation’s premier historically Black colleges. The setting is deliberate. By placing a world-renowned artist in conversation with students and faculty, the exhibit underscores Atlanta’s role not just as a place where art is displayed but where it is meaningfully engaged.
Location: Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, 350 Spelman Lane SW, Atlanta, GA 30314
Museum Hours: Wednesday–Saturday, 12 p.m.–5 p.m.; closed Sunday–Tuesday
“The Black Boy Art Show” Returns to Its Atlanta Roots
Across town, “The Black Boy Art Show” comes home April 15–16, taking over Guardian Works, a cavernous industrial space near the Beltline. The event buzzes with activity — a combination of gallery showcase and community gathering — featuring more than 40 visual artists, live DJs, interactive installations and continuous engagement.
The show was founded in 2019 by Atlanta artist Joshua Love, who started with a modest goal: to create a space where Black men could present their work outside the constraints of mainstream institutions. What began in a church basement has since grown into a multi-city tour with stops in Brooklyn, Houston, Los Angeles and beyond.
Despite its growth, the event hasn’t lost its community feel. Booths are arranged to encourage movement and dialogue. The work is diverse in medium and message, with Afrofuturist portraits, abstract collages, explorations of mental health and identity. Though it centers Black men, the show welcomes a broad spectrum of narratives and experiences.
This year’s Atlanta edition not only reaffirms the city’s place at the show’s core, it also points to the demand for more alternative platforms, particularly those grounded in Southern culture and sensibility.
Location: Guardian Works, 775 Echo St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Dates and Times: April 15, 6 p.m.–11 p.m.; April 16, 3 p.m.–9 p.m.
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Bridging Perspectives Through Art
The energy in these two shows couldn’t be more different. At Spelman, the gallery is quiet and almost serene. Viewers move through the exhibit slowly, stopping to read the student-written labels and study how Williams uses black in so many shades it starts to feel like language. Across town at Guardian Works, the atmosphere is vibrant and busy — there’s music, conversations and movement between booths. The art is bold and varied, hung in tight clusters that almost spill into the walkways. Both shows feel intentional but not rigid. The work invites attention without insisting on interpretation.
Atlanta’s Art Scene Draws National Attention
While cities like New York and Los Angeles have long dominated the conversation around American contemporary art, Atlanta is rapidly gaining ground. Atlanta art exhibits are drawing wider audiences as well, from local enthusiasts to national curators. Artists are moving here, collectors are paying attention and institutions — both large and grassroots — are stepping into the spotlight.
A 2023 Vanity Fair article described Atlanta as a city on the cusp of redefining American art culture, and Atlanta’s momentum is increasingly evident. The mix of historic institutions like Spelman and venues like Guardian Works — which opened in its current form in 2021 — reflects the city’s unique combination of legacy and innovation.
Atlanta Art Exhibits Offer Southern Style, Broad Appeal
There’s also a regional texture that gives Atlanta’s art scene its character. The influence of the South is unmistakable in the visuals, the themes, and even the rhythms of the spaces. References to HBCU life, neighborhood architecture, church iconography and Southern folklore ground much of the work in place and history.
But the appeal is far from provincial. These shows offer insight into larger cultural questions around identity, access and authorship. At a time when the art world is increasingly global and digital, Atlanta offers something rare: a scene that feels personal, local and alive.
Art That’s Welcoming, Not Exclusive
Perhaps most striking is the accessibility of these exhibits. You don’t need a background in fine arts to appreciate what’s on view. Whether you’re a longtime collector or a first-time visitor, Atlanta art exhibits offer an energy that feels welcoming rather than exclusive. At Spelman, student voices are part of the curatorial process. At Guardian Works, you can talk directly to artists about their work, then dance to a DJ set just a few steps away.
This level of access reflects a broader philosophy in Atlanta’s creative circles: art should be part of everyday life, not reserved for elite spaces. It’s a mindset that opens doors for both artists and audiences — and that makes the city’s art scene feel participatory rather than performative.
Beyond Definition: Why These Shows Matter
Both “We Say What Black This Is” and “The Black Boy Art Show” arrive at a moment when cultural institutions are under increased scrutiny. Who gets to tell stories? Who gets funding and visibility? While neither show claims to have the answers, both offer alternatives. They create space for multiplicity, joy and grief, clarity and ambiguity, and politics and poetry.
That range is the point. These exhibitions reject the idea that art needs to be explained or justified. They suggest that art — especially when rooted in lived experience — can simply be.
In doing so, they help define what makes Atlanta’s art scene so compelling: its openness, its urgency, and its refusal to conform.
When You Go
Whether you’re local or visiting, these exhibitions offer more than just a chance to see great art. They provide a lens into Atlanta’s creative heartbeat and offer a glimpse of a city in the midst of artistic reinvention. For visitors and locals alike, Atlanta art exhibits offer an entry point into that transformation.
Come ready to explore, reflect and discover what makes Atlanta’s art culture distinct. Because if this spring is any indication, Atlanta isn’t just part of the conversation. It’s helping lead it. And while the exhibits may be temporary, the conversations they spark about identity, place and creative freedom are likely to last much longer.
