Visiting The Met? The Temple of Dendur will be closed Sunday, April 27 through Friday, May 9. The Met Fifth Avenue will be closed Monday, May 5.

red and blue foliage background colorful portrait of a black woman wearing a green bandana

Exhibition

Before Yesterday We Could Fly: An Afrofuturist Period Room

Overview Visiting Guide Exhibition Objects Related Content Meet The Artists

Bowl, Glass, Italian, Venice (Murano) — Bowl
Italian, Venice (Murano)
18th century

Cruet, Glass, Italian, Venice (Murano) — Cruet
Italian, Venice (Murano)
18th–19th century

Bottle (Kuttrolf), Glass, German — Bottle (Kuttrolf)
German
probably 17th century

Double flasks, Glass, probably German — Double flasks
probably German
18th century

Jar with cover, Glass, Italian, Venice (Murano) — Jar with cover
Italian, Venice (Murano)
16th century

Pipe Box, Pine, American — Pipe Box
American
1700–1800

Warming Pan, Brass, iron — Warming Pan
1770–1830

Churn, Wood; Probably cedar — Churn
1700–1800

Kettle, Iron — Kettle
1700–1900

Covered Jar, Stoneware, American — Covered Jar
American
1800–1900

Jar, Thomas W. Commeraw or, Stoneware, American — Jar
Thomas W. Commeraw
David Morgan
1796–1819

Mortar and pestle, Brass, British or American — Mortar and pestle
British or American
second half 18th century

Batter jug, Stoneware, American — Batter jug
American
1882–85

Salt Box, Yellow pine, American — Salt Box
American
ca. 1850

Shovel, Brass, steel — Shovel
1770–1830

Power Figure: Male (Nkisi), Wood, glass, metal, cloth, organic matter, Kongo peoples — Power Figure: Male (Nkisi)
Kongo peoples
19th–20th century

Staff (Recade): Bird, Brass (hammered), copper, tin, seed pod(?), Fon peoples — Staff (Recade): Bird
Fon peoples
19th century

Prestige Stool: Leopard, Wood, glass beads, cowrie shells, burlap, printed cotton cloth, Bamileke or Bamum — Prestige Stool: Leopard
Bamileke or Bamum
19th–20th century

Ceremonial Palm Wine Vessel, Gourd, glass beads, cloth, cane, wood, Grassfields region — Ceremonial Palm Wine Vessel
Grassfields region
19th–20th century

Crucifix, Brass, Kongo peoples — Crucifix
Kongo peoples
17th century

Reliquary glass, Glass, Italian, Venice (Murano) — Reliquary glass
Italian, Venice (Murano)
19th century

Untitled, Magdalene Odundo British, Red clay — Untitled
Magdalene Odundo
1997

In Sojourner Truth I Fought for the Rights of Women as well as Negroes, from “The Negro Woman” series, Elizabeth Catlett American and Mexican, Linocut — In Sojourner Truth I Fought for the Rights of Women as well as Negroes, from “The Negro Woman” series
Elizabeth Catlett
1947

Jitterbugs II, William Henry Johnson American, Screenprint — Jitterbugs II
William Henry Johnson
ca. 1941

Hair Comb, India Rubber Comb Company, Vulcanite (India rubber and sulfur) — Hair Comb
India Rubber Comb Company
Charles Goodyear
ca. 1851

Shine, Willie Cole American, Shoes, steel wire, monofilament line, washers, and screws — Shine
Willie Cole
2007

Andrea Motley Crabtree, the first, Henry Taylor American, Acrylic on canvas — Andrea Motley Crabtree, the first
Henry Taylor
2017

For Dodie, Lorna Simpson American, Collage of cut and pasted printed found papers on paper — For Dodie
Lorna Simpson
2018

Ini Archibong

Sé Collections

2019–21

Orion Table, Ini Archibong American, Glass, Carrara marble, Swiss — Orion Table
Multiple artists/makers
2021

Mido Chair, Jomo Tariku Ethiopian American, Walnut veneer — Mido Chair
Multiple artists/makers
2021

Ini Archibong

Sé Collections

2019–21

Justice of Ezili, Fabiola Jean-Louis Haitian, Paper, gold, Swarovski crystals, lapis lazuli, labradorite, brass, ink, and resin., Haitian — Justice of Ezili
Fabiola Jean-Louis
2021

Thriving and Potential, Displaced (Again and Again and...), Njideka Akunyili Crosby Nigerian, Inkjet print on vinyl. — Thriving and Potential, Displaced (Again and Again and...)
Njideka Akunyili Crosby
2021

OUT / SIDE OF TIME, Jenn Nkiru, b. 1987 British, Five-channel digital video, black-and-white and color, sound, 6 min. — OUT / SIDE OF TIME
Jenn Nkiru, b. 1987
2021

Summer Azure, Tourmaline American, Inkjet dye sublimation on aluminium (exhibition copy), American — Summer Azure
Tourmaline
2020

Morning Cloak, Tourmaline American, Inkjet dye sublimation on aluminium (exhibition copy), American — Morning Cloak
Tourmaline
2020

Vernus 3, Ini Archibong American, Glass, galvanized steel — Vernus 3
Multiple artists/makers
2020

Digable Underground, Roberto Lugo American, Glazed stoneware, enamel paint, and luster — Digable Underground
Roberto Lugo
2021

Iya Ati Omo, Yinka Ilori British-Nigerian, Beech wood, enamel paint, brass, and cotton — Iya Ati Omo
Yinka Ilori
2016

Mollo Oa Leifo – Mme (“fire in the hearth – Mother”), Atang Tshikare South African, Singed beech wood and rubber wood, woven grass, textile, bronze, and glass beads — Mollo Oa Leifo – Mme (“fire in the hearth – Mother”)
Atang Tshikare
2021

Mollo Oa Leifo – Ngoanana (“fire in the hearth – Girl”), Atang Tshikare South African, Singed beech wood and rubber wood, woven grass, textile, bronze, and glass beads — Mollo Oa Leifo – Ngoanana (“fire in the hearth – Girl”)
Atang Tshikare
2021

Sandi Conical Vase, Andile Dyalvane South African, Glazed ceramic — Sandi Conical Vase
Andile Dyalvane
Imiso Studio
2020

Handpinched Vase, Zizipho Poswa South African, Glazed ceramic — Handpinched Vase
Zizipho Poswa
Imiso Studio
2020

Handpinched Vase, Zizipho Poswa South African, Glazed ceramic — Handpinched Vase
Zizipho Poswa
Imiso Studio
2020

Fat conical vase, Zizipho Poswa South African, Glazed ceramic — Fat conical vase
Zizipho Poswa
Imiso Studio
2020

Imbizo Stool, Chuma Maweni South African, Carved glazed ceramic — Imbizo Stool
Chuma Maweni
2018–21

Imbizo Table, Chuma Maweni South African, Carved glazed ceramic, carved and ebonized Kiaat wood — Imbizo Table
Chuma Maweni
2018–21

Imbizo Stool, Chuma Maweni South African, Carved glazed ceramic — Imbizo Stool
Chuma Maweni
2018–21

Magodi - Noxolo, Zizipho Poswa South African, Glazed ceramic — Magodi - Noxolo
Zizipho Poswa
2020

Umwonyo, Andile Dyalvane South African, Glazed ceramic — Umwonyo
Andile Dyalvane
2019

Miyale Ya Blue, Cyrus Kabiru Kenyan, Steel and found objects — Miyale Ya Blue
Cyrus Kabiru
2020