Ohio State club displaying art exhibit for Black History Month
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The Ohio State University Faculty Club is honoring Black History Month with an exhibit that is on display for free and will be open until March 6.
The curator Arris Cohen explained this exhibition shines a light on local Black artist, giving them the space to be seen, heard and celebrated. 'There are so many artists in this city who have a legacy here and are legends here,' Cohen said. 'And just to be able to have some of them in this space where usually we don't have representation like that is important, is important.'
The work of nine local artists at the exhibition 'A Seat at the Table' is making history as the first exclusively all-Black group display at the OSU faculty club. Cohen noted it took four months to complete this project, from picking each artist to choosing the themes of the show.
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'In terms of getting all of their work together, it was an arduous process, but the process is the best part of the journey as it pertains to art, so it was fun,' Cohen said. 'There was a lot of communication with the different artists that I wanted to be in the show, as well as the fact that you have two posthumous artists in the show.'
Uplifting the voices of these artists was imperative to Cohen as he was curating this show, especially as it runs through Black History Month. Citing a desire to celebrate and honor the work they have shared with the world in an impactful way.
'The timing of the show is really important to show that our culture, our creativity, our prowess is not negotiable,' Cohen said. 'And we do deserve the representation that we do receive. And it's not a fad or just something that is for now is here to stay.'
Cohen also expressed the immense privilege it was to create this display and hopes the stories told through these pieces from Black creatives around the community continue to bring people together.
'I really look for it to evoke conversation, to continue the conversation of why representation of all types of people matters,' Cohen said. 'We are more alike than we are different.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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