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Coming Soon

Bold and Brilliant: The Rise of Black American Magazines, 1930–1970

Date February 28–May 31, 2027

Location Main Campus | Beck Building

Parking at Beck Garage
Drop off at Beck Building
Get Tickets

Ready to Visit?

Member and All Access tickets include same-day admission to this Special Exhibition, all other Special Exhibitions, and the MFAH Permanent Collections.

Email Your Questions [email protected]

Now On View

Bold and Brilliant: The Rise of Black American Magazines, 1930–1970

Date February 28–May 31, 2027

Location Main Campus | Beck Building

Parking at Beck Garage
Drop off at Beck Building
Get Tickets

Ready to Visit?

Member and All Access tickets include same-day admission to this Special Exhibition, all other Special Exhibitions, and the MFAH Permanent Collections.

Email Your Questions [email protected]

Bold and Brilliant: The Rise of Black American Magazines, 1930–1970 uncovers dynamic imagery that documents Black cultural life during the eras of the Great Migration, Civil Rights activism, and the Black Is Beautiful movement.
 
Between 1930 and 1970, Black picture magazines and their image makers chronicled Black American life across the nation. More than 300 general-interest magazines were published for the Black community, both nationally (such as Ebony and Sepia) and locally (such as Cincinnati’s NIP and Harlem’s Survey Graphic).
 
The first exhibition dedicated to photographers working for Black magazines in America during these critical decades, Bold and Brilliant presents vintage spreads and more than 100 images by 50 photographers. Thematic sections represent the most-published topics in the magazines: fashion and beauty, food and home entertaining, sports, music, nightclubs, professions, education, and activism. At a time before social media, these publications were the primary spaces of self-representation, helping to foster communities and define cultural standards.
 
Because nearly all of the images were produced for magazines—the primary way readers of these eras encountered photography—most of the photographs are displayed for the first time. Bold and Brilliant: The Rise of Black American Magazines, 1930–1970 demonstrates the significance of this previously overlooked material, its place within the 20th-century home, and its importance to American culture.
Plan Your Visit

Archival Database 
The MFAH and University of Houston have partnered to produce an archival database of the newly rediscovered publications, with more than 2,500 entries anticipated. By providing access to the rare magazines, the online resource will ensure that these important cultural touchstones are available for generations to come.

Publication 
For information about the illustrated exhibition catalogue, contact the MFA Shop (713-639-7360) or the Museum’s Hirsch Library (713-639-7325). 

Bold and Brilliant: The Rise of Black American Magazines, 1930–1970 / February 28–May 31, 2027
“Bold and Brilliant: The Rise of Black American Magazines, 1930–1970” is organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
 
Generous support is provided by:
Jacquelyn Barish
Phillip and Edith Leonian Foundation
Patricia J. Eifel