The South Side Community Art Center (SSCAC) is proud to announce Beyond Frames: Black Women Collecting Art and Preserving Black Cultural Heritage, an exhibition that gives light to the powerful voices of Black women in Chicago who are shaping the future of art collecting across the African diaspora. The exhibition opens with a public reception on Saturday, January 18, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, and will be on view through March 29, 2025.

Beyond Frames celebrates over 15 local collections that reflect the personal motivations, evolving journeys, and unique contributions of each featured collector. The exhibition explores how these women have been pivotal in elevating Black artists, broadening access to African American art, and inspiring future generations of collectors through their commitment to preserving Black cultural heritage.

“This exhibition is a celebration of legacy and love,” says co-curator Bethany Hill. “These collectors are not only preserving art, they are preserving stories, history, and traditions that continue to inspire new generations of artists and art lovers.”

Through Beyond Frames, SSCAC continues its legacy of honoring Black creativity and community-driven art practices, while fostering meaningful conversations about how Black women collectors are redefining cultural stewardship. The exhibition presents a powerful and uplifting narrative about the importance of ownership, preservation, and the celebration of Black cultural contributions. Beyond Frames is made possible through the generous support of the Terra Foundation for American Art and is presented as part of Art Design Chicago, a citywide initiative celebrating Chicago’s unique artistic heritage and creative communities.

Image: Delita Martin, I Look for You, 2019.

Patricia Andrews-Keenan Collection.

Relief printing, stipple pencil, acrylic, lithography, liquid gold leaf, decorative papers,

fabric, hand stitching. 15 x 20 in., framed.