Their World As Big As They Made It: Looking Back at the Harlem Renaissance

EXHIBITION OVERVIEW:

One hundred years ago, the artistic and political revolutions of the Harlem Renaissance were in full swing. The unmistakable sounds, images, words, and conventions of the era indelibly shaped American culture.

Featuring the visionary works of writers, artists, and thinkers of the Harlem Renaissance, this exhibition examines the creative and intellectual pursuits that defined Black American identity and political consciousness. The Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library is fortunate to hold a wide selection of influential books, magazines, illustrations, and manuscripts by these creators.

While some of these materials were added within the last few decades, the UVA Library also appears to have collected some of the era’s most impactful serials contemporaneously, allowing us to revisit the ideas and arts of a time and place that have profoundly influenced generations.

Featured painting:

Above The Heights, 2023