Past Exhibits

Artists that have exhibited in the Uumbaji Art Gallery have displayed fashion, themes related to Black Hair, photojournalism, dolls, and ceramics just to name a few. 

Read below for more information about exhibitions that have previously shown in the gallery.

Trendsetters Exhibition, by Paige Darling

Spring 2025

This exhibition included original designs and illustrations from black fashion students at Kent State University. These students included work from class projects, student organization fashion shows, as well as personal projects.

Traditional Sailor Mas in Trinidad and Tobago: CARNIVAL, CULTURE AND MEANING, by Dr. Janine Tiffe.

Spring 2025

The focus of this exhibit is the cultural practice of traditional mas, specifically sailor mas, from Trinidad and Tobago. This multimedia project included music, video, textiles, photos, plus historical and cultural narratives designed to educate both the KSU as well as our off-campus community stakeholders.

A History of Black United Students Photo Exhibit

Spring 2025

This exhibition addresses how in November 1967, in response to a presentation by Henry Austin, who was the Public Relations Director of the Deacons for Defense and Justice, African American students at Kent State University organized themselves into a new student organization called Black United Students [BUS] during the winter quarter of 1968. It showcases the history of this campus and Black United Students through images.

God is Anti-racist (GiA-r), composition no.1 by Amanda D. King

Spring 2022

Artist and social justice advocate Amanda D. King’s acclaimed solo exhibition, God is Anti-racist (GiA-r), composition no.1, consists of screenprints, digital prints, letterpress prints, textile, and found sculpture. The exhibition moves through stages of lamentation, crucifixion, resurrection, and baptism. King’s creative process is informed by Black Liberation Theology, spiritual practice, and cultural mythmaking.

Black Student Movements: Orangeburg, Kent and Jackson State 1968-1970

Spring & Summer 2020

This exhibit seeks to highlight the civil rights struggles and anti-war protests which students engaged in at Orangeburg, Kent State University and Jackson State University as well as presenting images from the shootings which occur at each of the three Universities between the years 1968-1970.  Curated by Idris Kabir Syed.

(Dis)Mantle, an exhibition of works by Cleveland-based artist Amber N. Ford

Fall 2019

Curated by Dr. Joseph Underwood with assistance from curatorial assistant Jonathan Gonzalez

For more information contact JUnder18@kent.edu

Spirit of the Masquerade: Masks of Western Africa by Orisanmi Kehinde Odesanya (Joyce Morrow)

Fall 2018

Retold African Culture and Fables Reinterpreted into Fashion by Tamika Ellington, Ph.D.

Fall 2016

The Real African: Images from Ghana, a photography exhibit by Vince Robinson

Spring 2017 & 2018

DANCING A LIFE: The Journey of an Afro-Caribbean Woman a photography exhibit by Joann Kilgour Dowdy

Fall 2014