Dorrance Galleries
Main Building
This exhibition features 28 Black and African diasporic contemporary artists who use figurative painting, drawing and sculpture to illuminate and celebrate the nuance and richness of Black contemporary life.
Curated by British writer and curator Ekow Eshun, The Time Is Always Now takes its title from an essay on desegregation by American writer and social rights activist James Baldwin. It highlights a sense of urgency around contemporary artistic expression, while acting as a reminder that Black artists exist within an always-evolving artistic lineage.
The more than 60 contemporary works featured in this exhibition unfold around three core themes: Double Consciousness, Past and Presence and Our Aliveness. Double Consciousness, a theory first introduced in 1897 by the African American sociologist W.E.B Du Bois, explores concepts of being, belonging and Blackness as a psychological state. Past and Presence explores the absence of Black figures in many mainstream narratives and shows how artists have responded. Our Aliveness features assertions and celebrations of Black assembly and gathering.
Traveling to the Philadelphia Museum of Art from the National Portrait Gallery in London, the Black and African diasporic artists in this exhibition work in the U.S. and the U.K. They include Michael Armitage, Claudette Johnson, Kerry James Marshall, Toyin Ojih Odutola, and Amy Sherald. For the show’s U.S. premiere, additional artists working in Philadelphia, London, and New York have been added, including Jonathan Lyndon Chase, Kudzanai-Violet Hwami, Roberto Lugo, Danielle Mckinney, Deborah Roberts, and Arthur Timothy.
Public Guided Tours
Join a guided tour of The Time Is Always Now for an hour-long exploration of the themes and stories behind the works.
Tours are offered Thursday – Monday, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
$45; museum and exhibition admission included
Audio Tour
Enhance your experience of The Time is Always Now by taking the audio tour during your visit. Hear from organizing curator Ekow Eshun and several featured artists about the stories behind the artworks.
Please make sure to bring your headphones to listen to the tour on your own mobile device. For the best experience, download the free Smartify app on your iOS or Android mobile device.
Member Benefits
Members receive unlimited access to The Time Is Always Now with their membership card, no tickets required. Member guest tickets must be booked in advance.
