The New Museum is set to host the largest-ever survey exhibition of the works of filmmaker and multimedia artist Arthur Jafa, titled 'I Am Tony'. This September, the museum will showcase Jafa's nearly four-decade-long career, interrogating the concept of 'Black being' through his iconic and thought-provoking pieces. The exhibition will feature some of Jafa's most renowned works, including the powerful video montage 'Love is the Message, The Message is Death' (2016), which was livestreamed for 48 hours by over a dozen institutions during the height of Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. This piece, set to Kanye West's 'Ultralight Beam', assembles archival and contemporary elements of Black visual culture, offering a poignant reflection on Black American life. Personally, I find this work particularly fascinating as it gives viewers permission to cry, as critic Seph Rodney noted. Jafa's 30-minute film 'The White Album' (2018), a critique of the social construct of whiteness, will also be on display, alongside the premiere of new works. The survey's reference to the late jazz drummer Tony Williams, who coined an irregular, open style of jazz drumming, builds upon Jafa's dialogue with Black popular music in his pulsating films. What makes this exhibition truly remarkable is the opportunity to witness Jafa's evolution over nearly four decades, from his early architectural studies at Howard University to his work as a cinematographer for directors like Stanley Kubrick and his music video for Jay-Z's '4:44'. The survey, curated by New Museum Artistic Director Massimiliano Gioni, Senior Curator Gary Carrion-Murayari, and Curatorial Assistant Calvin Wang, will run from September 24, 2026, to January 4, 2027. Two other shows in the New Museum's fall and winter series, 'Diego Marcon: Arrivederci, Piggies!' and 'The Bowery: Devil’s Mile', will run concurrently with 'I Am Tony'. This exhibition is a must-see for anyone interested in contemporary art, particularly those interested in the intersection of race, identity, and popular culture. It raises a deeper question about the role of art in challenging societal constructs and offering new perspectives. From my perspective, Jafa's work is a powerful reminder of the impact of art in shaping our understanding of the world and ourselves. What many people don't realize is that Jafa's films are not just visual masterpieces but also deeply personal expressions of his experiences as a Black artist. His work challenges viewers to confront the complexities of identity and the power of art to evoke emotion and provoke thought.
