Flight into Egypt: Black Artists and Ancient Egypt, 1876–Now
The Met Fifth Avenue
The Tisch Galleries
November 17th 2024 – February 17th 2025
The Met’s upcoming exhibition, Flight into Egypt: Black Artists and Ancient Egypt, 1876–Now, will open on November 17, 2024, and run through February 17, 2025, in The Tisch Galleries at The Met Fifth Avenue. This exhibition will showcase nearly 200 works of art from The Met’s collection and other global collections, including loans from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Europe. It aims to explore how Black artists and cultural figures have engaged with ancient Egypt across various mediums over the past 150 years.
Supported by multiple foundations, this exhibition underscores the deep connection between the global African diaspora and ancient Egyptian themes in art and culture. Max Hollein, The Met’s Marina Kellen French Director and CEO emphasized the exhibition’s goal of increasing the understanding of ancient Egypt’s influence on Black identity and creativity. This comprehensive display will illuminate the longstanding tradition of Black artists drawing inspiration from ancient Egypt, both within and beyond the museum setting.
“Unprecedented in scope, the exhibition broadly lays out the many ways in which Black artists and cultural figures have engaged and continue to engage with ancient Egypt as a point of reference, inspiration, and connection. Our hope is that it furthers and deepens exploration of this topic.”
– Max Hollein, MET CEO
Ford Foundation President Darren Walker highlighted the exhibition’s role in showcasing how ancient Egyptian culture has been a vital source of inspiration for Black creatives, aiding in the formation of a unifying identity. The exhibition will feature a range of works, from Henry Ossawa Tanner’s titular piece “Flight into Egypt” (1923) to Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlich’s recent film “Cleopatra at the Mall” (2024), challenging traditional Eurocentric views of ancient Egypt and celebrating the contributions of cultural figures of African descent.
The exhibition traces the evolution of Black engagement with ancient Egyptian imagery from the late 19th century through the Harlem Renaissance, the Black Arts Movement, and contemporary artistic expressions. It reveals how Black Americans, in particular, have looked to ancient Egypt to reclaim a sense of pride and cultural identity, opposing the 19th-century Egyptology that separated ancient Egypt from “Black Africa.”
Flight into Egypt will feature works by artists from diverse backgrounds. The exhibition will present both well-known and emerging artists, offering new perspectives and reintroducing rarely displayed pieces. The global resonance of ancient Egypt within the African diaspora will be highlighted through these varied works.
Incorporating performance art for the first time, The Met will introduce the Performance Pyramid, a gallery dedicated to documenting and hosting live performances inspired by ancient Egyptian themes. This collaboration with MetLiveArts will bring performances by artists like Sidra Bell and Rashida Bumbray, enriching Flight into Egypt’s dynamic exploration of ancient Egypt’s influence on contemporary Black culture. The gallery aims to both present a documentary history of ancient Egyptian-themed Black performance art and also host live performances throughout the exhibition.
Accompanying the exhibition, a robust educational program will offer gallery talks, workshops, and a Creative Convening event, fostering deeper engagement with ancient Egyptian art and its contemporary relevance. Additionally, an exhibition catalog, featuring essays and contributions from artists and scholars, will provide further insights and be available for purchase globally.
