Exhibition

Before Yesterday We Could Fly: An Afrofuturist Period Room

November 5th, 2021 - Ongoing

Now on view at The Met Fifth Avenue, Gallery 508

Free with Museum admission

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Overview Visiting Guide Exhibition Objects Meet The Artists

Bowl, Glass — Bowl
18th century

Cruet, Glass — Cruet
18th–19th century

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

Double flasks, Glass — Double flasks
18th century

Jar with cover
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, Stoneware, American — Jar
Thomas W. Commeraw (active 1796–1819) or
David Morgan (active 1797–1802)
1796–1819

Mortar and pestle, Brass — Mortar and pestle
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, wax, 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 — Reliquary glass
19th century

Untitled, Magdalene Odundo, Red clay — Untitled
Magdalene Odundo (British, born Nairobi, Kenya, 1950)
1997

In Sojourner Truth I Fought for the Rights of Women as well as Negroes, from “The Negro Woman” series, Elizabeth Catlett, Linocut — In Sojourner Truth I Fought for the Rights of Women as well as Negroes, from “The Negro Woman” series
Elizabeth Catlett (American and Mexican, Washington, D.C. 1915–2012 Cuernavaca)
1947

Jitterbugs II, William Henry Johnson, Screenprint — Jitterbugs II
William Henry Johnson (American, Florence, South Carolina 1901–1970 Central Islip, New York)
ca. 1941

Hair Comb, India Rubber Comb Company, Vulcanite (India rubber and sulfur) — Hair Comb
Manufactured by India Rubber Comb Company
Patented by Charles Goodyear (1800–1860)
ca. 1851

Shine, Willie Cole, Shoes, steel wire, monofilament line, washers, and screws — Shine
Willie Cole (American, born Newark, New Jersey, 1955)
2007

Andrea Motley Crabtree, the first, Henry Taylor, Acrylic on canvas — Andrea Motley Crabtree, the first
Henry Taylor (American, born Oxnard, California, 1958)
2017

Earth & Sky, Lorna Simpson, Cut and pasted printed papers — Earth & Sky
Lorna Simpson (American, born Brooklyn, New York, 1960)
2018

Atlas Chair
Ini Archibong (American, born Pasadena, California 1983)
Sé Collections
2019–21

Orion Table, Ini Archibong, Glass, Carrara marble, Swiss — Orion Table
Various Artists
2021

Mido Chair, Jomo Tariku, Walnut veneer — Mido Chair
Various Artists
2021

Tiger Ashtray (green), Roberto Lugo, Glazed ceramics — Tiger Ashtray (green)
Roberto Lugo (American, born Philadelphia 1981)
2021

Tiger Ashtray (blue), Roberto Lugo, Glazed ceramics — Tiger Ashtray (blue)
Roberto Lugo (American, born Philadelphia 1981)
2021

Portrait Cup: Zora Neale Hurston, Roberto Lugo, Glazed ceramics — Portrait Cup: Zora Neale Hurston
Roberto Lugo (American, born Philadelphia 1981)
2021

Portrait Cup: Mae Jemison, Roberto Lugo, Glazed ceramic — Portrait Cup: Mae Jemison
Roberto Lugo (American, born Philadelphia 1981)
2021

Portrait Cup: Jean-Michel Basquiat, Roberto Lugo, Glazed ceramics — Portrait Cup: Jean-Michel Basquiat
Roberto Lugo (American, born Philadelphia 1981)
2021

Portrait Cup: Henrietta Lacks, Roberto Lugo, Glazed ceramics — Portrait Cup: Henrietta Lacks
Roberto Lugo (American, born Philadelphia 1981)
2021

Atlas Chair
Ini Archibong (American, born Pasadena, California 1983)
Sé Collections
2019–21

Justice of Ezili, Fabiola Jean-Louis, Paper, gold, Swarovski crystals, lapis lazuli, labradorite, brass, ink, and resin. — Justice of Ezili
Fabiola Jean-Louis (Haitian, born 1978)
2021

Thriving and Potential, Displaced (Again and Again and...), Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Inkjet print on vinyl. — Thriving and Potential, Displaced (Again and Again and...)
Njideka Akunyili Crosby (Nigerian, born Enugu, 1983)
2021

Portrait Cup: Gabrielle Union, Roberto Lugo, Glazed ceramics — Portrait Cup: Gabrielle Union
Roberto Lugo (American, born Philadelphia 1981)
2021

Portrait Cup: Horace Pippin, Roberto Lugo, Glazed ceramics — Portrait Cup: Horace Pippin
Roberto Lugo (American, born Philadelphia 1981)
2021

Portrait Cup: Frederick Douglass, Roberto Lugo, Glazed ceramics — Portrait Cup: Frederick Douglass
Roberto Lugo (American, born Philadelphia 1981)
2021

Plate: Stacey Abrams, Roberto Lugo, Glazed ceramics — Plate: Stacey Abrams
Roberto Lugo (American, born Philadelphia 1981)
2021

Plate: Nina Simone, Roberto Lugo, Glazed ceramic — Plate: Nina Simone
Roberto Lugo (American, born Philadelphia 1981)
2021

Plate: Beyonce, Roberto Lugo, Glazed ceramics — Plate: Beyonce
Roberto Lugo (American, born Philadelphia 1981)
2021

Plate: Alma Thomas, Roberto Lugo, Glazed ceramics — Plate: Alma Thomas
Roberto Lugo (American, born Philadelphia 1981)
2021

Grafitti Truck Bowl 1, Roberto Lugo, Glazed ceramic — Grafitti Truck Bowl 1
Roberto Lugo (American, born Philadelphia 1981)
2021

Grafitti Truck Bowl 2, Roberto Lugo, Glazed ceramic — Grafitti Truck Bowl 2
Roberto Lugo (American, born Philadelphia 1981)
2021

Grafitti Truck Bowl 3, Roberto Lugo, Glazed ceramic — Grafitti Truck Bowl 3
Roberto Lugo (American, born Philadelphia 1981)
2021

Grafitti Truck Bowl 4, Roberto Lugo, Glazed ceramic — Grafitti Truck Bowl 4
Roberto Lugo (American, born Philadelphia 1981)
2021

Crown Ashtray (MLK), Roberto Lugo, Glazed ceramic — Crown Ashtray (MLK)
Roberto Lugo (American, born Philadelphia 1981)
2021

Grafitti Cup 3, Roberto Lugo, Glazed ceramic — Grafitti Cup 3
Roberto Lugo (American, born Philadelphia 1981)
2021

Grafitti Cup 4, Roberto Lugo, Glazed ceramic — Grafitti Cup 4
Roberto Lugo (American, born Philadelphia 1981)
2021

Grafitti Cup 5, Roberto Lugo, Glazed ceramic — Grafitti Cup 5
Roberto Lugo (American, born Philadelphia 1981)
2021

Grafitti Cup 6, Roberto Lugo, Glazed ceramic — Grafitti Cup 6
Roberto Lugo (American, born Philadelphia 1981)
2021

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

Summer Azure, Tourmaline, Inkjet dye sublimation on aluminium (exhibition copy) — Summer Azure
Tourmaline (American, born Boston, Massachusetts, 1983)
2020

Morning Cloak, Tourmaline, Inkjet dye sublimation on aluminium (exhibition copy) — Morning Cloak
Tourmaline (American, born Boston, Massachusetts, 1983)
2020

Vernus 3, Ini Archibong, Glass, galvanized steel — Vernus 3
Various Artists
2020

Digable Underground, Roberto Lugo, Glazed stoneware, enamel paint, and luster — Digable Underground
Roberto Lugo (American, born Philadelphia 1981)
2021

Iya Ati Omo, Yinka Ilori, Beech wood, enamel paint, brass, and cotton — Iya Ati Omo
Yinka Ilori (British-Nigerian, born London, 1987)
2016

Mollo Oa Leifo – Mme (“fire in the hearth – Mother”), Atang Tshikare, Singed beech wood and rubber wood, woven grass, textile, bronze, and glass beads — Mollo Oa Leifo – Mme (“fire in the hearth – Mother”)
Atang Tshikare (South African, born 1980)
2021

Mollo Oa Leifo – Ngoanana (“fire in the hearth – Girl”), Atang Tshikare, Singed beech wood and rubber wood, woven grass, textile, bronze, and glass beads — Mollo Oa Leifo – Ngoanana (“fire in the hearth – Girl”)
Atang Tshikare (South African, born 1980)
2021

Sandi Conical Vase, Andile Dyalvane, Glazed ceramic — Sandi Conical Vase
Andile Dyalvane (South African, born 1978)
Imiso Studio (Imiso Studio, 2005)
2020

Handpinched Vase, Zizipho Poswa, Glazed ceramic — Handpinched Vase
Zizipho Poswa (South African, born 1979)
Imiso Studio (Imiso Studio, 2005)
2020

Handpinched Vase, Zizipho Poswa, Glazed ceramic — Handpinched Vase
Zizipho Poswa (South African, born 1979)
Imiso Studio (Imiso Studio, 2005)
2020

Fat conical vase, Zizipho Poswa, Glazed ceramic — Fat conical vase
Zizipho Poswa (South African, born 1979)
Imiso Studio (Imiso Studio, 2005)
2020

Imbizo Stool, Chuma Maweni, Carved glazed ceramic — Imbizo Stool
Chuma Maweni (South African, born 1976)
2018–21

Imbizo Table, Chuma Maweni, Carved glazed ceramic, carved and ebonized Kiaat wood — Imbizo Table
Chuma Maweni (South African, born 1976)
2018–21

Imbizo Stool, Chuma Maweni, Carved glazed ceramic — Imbizo Stool
Chuma Maweni (South African, born 1976)
2018–21

Magodi - Noxolo, Zizipho Poswa, Glazed ceramic — Magodi - Noxolo
Zizipho Poswa (South African, born 1979)
2020

Umwonyo, Andile Dyalvane, Glazed ceramic — Umwonyo
Andile Dyalvane (South African, born 1978)
2019

Miyale Ya Blue, Cyrus Kabiru, Steel and found objects — Miyale Ya Blue
Cyrus Kabiru (Kenyan, born 1984)
2020

Plan Your Visit

Dates

November 5th, 2021 - Ongoing

The Met Fifth Avenue

Free with Museum admission

Plan Your Visit All exhibitions