Artsy, the world’s largest online platform for discovering and collecting art, is delighted to announce the launch of its forthcoming campaign, Black-Owned Galleries Now. Launching during Black History Month, this dedicated initiative will celebrate and amplify the work of Black artists, selected and presented by more than 50 Black-owned galleries.
Launching on February 1, 2025, this exclusive online showcase will present a variety of artworks by Black artists—from emerging talents like Satchel Lee and Cece Philips to established names like David Driskell and Zanele Muholi—presented by Black-owned galleries from over 30 cities worldwide, including Rele, Sakhile&Me, Ojiri Gallery, Richard Beavers Gallery, Cierra Britton Gallery, Addis Fine Art, and Jenkins Johnson Gallery, among others. Each participating gallery will curate their own selection of artists and for-sale works, which will be displayed in a dedicated booth. Artworks will range in prices from $250 to upwards of $20,000.
Ibrahim Bamidele
Courtesy of TAAH
Discussing the launch of this campaign to spotlight Black History Month, Adeola Gay, Artsy’s Senior Curatorial Manager, said: “We are thrilled to launch our campaign in February to champion Black artists and Black gallery owners to coincide with Black History Month. Our ‘Black-Owned Galleries Now’ initiative will place an important spotlight on the breadth of galleries and artists represented on Artsy. There’s an exciting range of work in terms of artists, mediums, and pricing, offering moments of discovery and opportunities for acquisition for aspiring and established collectors alike.”
With an eye toward new and aspiring collectors, the campaign will extend to curated collections, editorial articles, and Instagram Reels that seek to help with discovering rising artists, standout works to collect, and gallerists to meet.
“I’m honored to be one of the Black-owned galleries featured in this showcase, as it celebrates the vital contributions of Black gallerists to the contemporary art world,” said participating gallerist Cierra Britton. This initiative is exciting for collectors at every stage because it highlights the incredible range and depth of talent coming from artists who are often underrepresented. At Cierra Britton Gallery, we think long-term when it comes to our program, focusing on how our artists grow and evolve in their work with time. Being part of this showcase reflects our commitment to shaping a more inclusive and dynamic art landscape.”
“In a time where our society is navigating major cultural shifts, I believe art offers a grounding force—whether through fostering connection, telling untold stories, or serving as a space for reflection and healing,” Britton added. “This is what makes this showcase so powerful: it provides collectors with the opportunity to engage with work that truly resonates and inspires.”
Courtesy of Mitochondria
Highlights from Black-Owned Galleries Now include:
Mitochondria Samuel Nnorom’s Heart Beat (2024), an intricate fabric sculpture crafted from colorful, woven materials in the Nigerian artist’s signature style; and Nedia Were’s figurative painting Ipicha Ya Vudukhu (2024) featuring a serene young woman under the moonlight wearing a voluminous turquoise frock ($7,000).
Addis Fine Art Paintings by Ethiopian artists Engdaye Lemma and Tadesse Mesfin, including Lemma’s we are__? (2023), a dynamic abstract mixed-media piece rife with energy; and Mesfin’s Reciprocity (2024), a tender portrayal of women gathered together.
Tadesse Mesfin
Courtesy of Addis Fine Art
Ojiri Gallery Rising British artist Cece Philips’s The Debate (2022), a compelling canvas featuring rows of seated women in red and pink suits; and Nigerian artist Victor Ubah’s tbt (2022), featuring a nude man covered in a geometric pattern rendered in inky blues and blacks. BKhz Gallery Athi-Patra Ruga’s iNyanga Zonyaka From the Lunar Songbook (2021), a dazzling tapestry of wool and thread portraying figures, rich with worldbuilding (ZAR R590,000; USD $31,911); and South African artist Zandile Tshabalala’s Stars (2024), an acrylic and glitter portrait of a woman painted in soft brushstrokes ($12,500).
Cierra Britton Gallery Nola Ayoola’s mixed media works made from woven fibers, shells, fabrics, paint, and more; Gabriela Pez’s Tropicalia (2024), a detailed watercolor on coffee stained paper featuring a face couched in a ring of pale blue lilies; and intimate monochrome portraits by American photographer Satchel Lee from “The X-pression Series.” Retro Africa Olarinde Ayanfe’s dynamic, dreamlike collaged paintings, including Sunny’s Vision (2024), an uncanny portrayal of a game of tennis ($13,000).
This devoted online space will remain live year-round following Black History Month, providing the participating galleries with ongoing visibility, and the opportunity to update their presentations on a regular basis.
©2025 Artsy
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