Editorial Note: Exploring Black Women-Led Spaces and Mutual Aid in Contemporary Art

By examining the models of Black women-led spaces and the mutual aid networks they have fostered, we gain critical insight into the power of community-driven cultural preservation, representation, and radical care. These spaces challenge historical erasure and offer blueprints for sustainable and inclusive artistic and scholarly practices.

I intentionally center Black Feminism—with a capital ‘B’—to critique and decenter the narratives I was raised with. I was taught to work twice as hard and to remain diligent but quiet. However, I reject that silence. Instead, I respond to my environment empathetically, embracing the necessity of making space, making noise, and making change.

My commitment to the community stems from a deep understanding of how representation, articulation, and preservation shape safe spaces for discourse and culture-sharing. Art, as a universal language, holds the power to radicalize and fulfill a neighbor's needs, serving as a catalyst for collective empowerment.

But don’t take my word for it—Black women’s contributions to contemporary art and history speak for themselves. Below, you’ll find curated deep dives into researched topics featuring authors, artists, and critical literature illuminating these ongoing legacies.

After eight years working in visual culture spaces, my biggest takeaway is this: Black people have not only always been present within aesthetic and artistic movements, but they have driven taste, shaped collecting and research practices, and redefined community and cultural spaces. By analyzing our successes and the structural barriers that attempt to disenfranchise us, we continue to build—and rebuild—institutions that reflect our histories, futures, and radical imaginations.