The African American Cultural Center art gallery hosts nationally and internationally recognized artists known for capturing various historical and contemporary happenings related to African American and African diaspora cultures. This semester’s lineup of exhibitions are about how we commune to meet ourselves and others at the intersections of our lives. Each exhibit is intended to cultivate and inspire joy. The African American Cultural Center Art Gallery is located in Witherspoon Student Center Rm 218.

Before We Knew Better

Exhibition – August 17, 2026 – September 25, 2026
Artist Talk Event – September 2, 2026

This exhibit brings together the work of Lamar Whidbee and Chris Facey to reflect on joy, memory, and the experiences that shape us early in life. Through their artwork, the exhibition looks to childhood as a place of imagination, play, and connection. Rather than seeing nostalgia as a way to escape the present, these works consider how memories of joy can remind us of what still matters. They ask what we carry with us from those early years and how those experiences continue to influence our well-being, our relationships, and our sense of self.

At a time when conversations around mental health are increasingly important, ” Before We Knew Better” offers space to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the moments that first taught us about joy.

You Are Here: Geolocating the Self through the Familiar in the Midst of the Unfamiliar

Exhibition – October 28, 2026 – February 26, 2027
Artist Talk Event – November 11, 2026

Join us to experience the works on display by ariana Farquharson. “You Are Here” is a speculative, immersive world-building study that invites guests to explore (geo)locating self and home amid a rapidly and frequently changing post-pandemic “new” world.

Elemental Harmony

Exhibition – March 8, 2027 – March 31, 2027
Artist Talk Event – To Be Announced (Spring 2027)

Elemental Harmony is an immersive collection of landscapes inspired by the four elements of Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire. Each painting by San B. Creative explores the quiet connection between the natural world and the human experience, inviting viewers to slow down, reflect, and rediscover the rhythms we share with nature. As the exhibition unfolds, it asks a simple question: What if we are not merely a reflection of nature, but nature itself?

Plan a Visit

The African American Cultural Center Art Gallery is located at 2810 Cates Ave, Raleigh, NC 27606 and is open Monday – Friday from 10am – 5 p.m. 
All programs and exhibitions are open to all. If you need accommodations to attend the event, please contact us at 919.515.5210.

Public Tours
We are excited to offer guests and visitors the opportunity to explore all of the wonderful features at the African American Cultural Center. We offer both guided and self-guided opportunities to members of our community. All children should be accompanied by a parent or guardian for public tours.

Private Tours and Field Trips
If you’re planning to visit with a large group, we’d be delighted to welcome you to the African American Cultural Center. We offer private group tours that allow you to experience the Center at a time that’s most convenient for your group. To request a private tour, please email us at [email protected].

For campus parking information, see the Witherspoon Student Center on the NC State Campus Map.