Hard Edged explores the evolving practice of geometrical abstraction in contemporary art, illustrating the rich interplay of tradition, innovation, and individual talent among forty-six visual artists of African descent. The exhibition offers an expansive and exploratory appreciation of geometrical abstraction, not only in painting, but also in assemblage, installation, photography, video, quilting, and mixed-media works. Features common to many works include the prominent use of lines and sharply edged shapes, a clear sense of composition, unity of form, intense contrasts, and flat fields of color.

The artists' approaches in this exhibition are very different and cross boundaries from perceptual to conceptual explorations of form. Some are minimalistic while others celebrate color and texture exuberantly. Although working at various levels of abstraction, the artists in this exhibition address important contemporary issues, including feminism, identity, colonialism, stereotypes, family relations, and social justice.

Hard Edged draws widely from local sources, including CAAM’s permanent collection, private collectors, galleries, and the artists themselves, and it includes Chelle Barbour, Sharon Louise Barnes, April Bey, Joseph Beckles, Ronda Brown, Mark Broyard, Lavialle Campbell, Elizabeth Catlett, Castillo, Edward Clark, Charles Dickson, June Edmonds, Melvin Edwards, Kathie Foley-Meyer, Bre Gipson, David Hammons, Hillary Jaynes, Daniel LaRue Johnson, Rashid Johnson, Samuel Levi Jones, Doyle Lane, Jacob Lawrence, Isabelle Lutterodt, Enoch Mack, Eric Mack, Senga Nengudi, Nzuji de Magalhães, Kori Newkirk, Duane Paul, Doug Pearsall, Karl J-G Petion, Greg Pitts, Noah Purifoy, Charla Puryear, Miles Regis, John T. Riddle Jr., Michelle Robinson, Charles Rosenberg, Lisa C Soto, Devin Troy Strother, Holly Tempo, Matthew Thomas, Richard Turner, Tim Washington, Lisa Diane Wedgeworth, and Brenna Youngblood.

This exhibition was curated by Mar Hollingsworth, Visual Arts Curator and Program Manager.