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Exhibition

Before Yesterday We Could Fly: An Afrofuturist Period Room

November 5, 2021–Ongoing

Now on view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 508

Free with Museum admission

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Overview Visiting Guide Exhibition Objects 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
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
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
1947

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

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

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

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

Earth & Sky, Lorna Simpson American, Cut and pasted printed papers — Earth & Sky
2018

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

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

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

Portrait Cup: Zora Neale Hurston, Roberto Lugo American, Glazed ceramics, American — Portrait Cup: Zora Neale Hurston
2021

Portrait Cup: Mae Jemison, Roberto Lugo American, Glazed ceramic, American — Portrait Cup: Mae Jemison
2021

Portrait Cup: Jean-Michel Basquiat, Roberto Lugo American, Glazed ceramics, American — Portrait Cup: Jean-Michel Basquiat
2021

Portrait Cup: Henrietta Lacks, Roberto Lugo American, Glazed ceramics, American — Portrait Cup: Henrietta Lacks
2021

2019–21

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

Portrait Cup: Gabrielle Union, Roberto Lugo American, Glazed ceramics, American — Portrait Cup: Gabrielle Union
2021

Portrait Cup: Horace Pippin, Roberto Lugo American, Glazed ceramics, American — Portrait Cup: Horace Pippin
2021

Portrait Cup: Frederick Douglass, Roberto Lugo American, Glazed ceramics, American — Portrait Cup: Frederick Douglass
2021

Plate: Stacey Abrams, Roberto Lugo American, Glazed ceramics, American — Plate: Stacey Abrams
2021

Plate: Nina Simone, Roberto Lugo American, Glazed ceramic, American — Plate: Nina Simone
2021

Plate: Beyonce, Roberto Lugo American, Glazed ceramics, American — Plate: Beyonce
2021

Plate: Alma Thomas, Roberto Lugo American, Glazed ceramics, American — Plate: Alma Thomas
2021

Grafitti Truck Bowl 1, Roberto Lugo American, Glazed ceramic, American — Grafitti Truck Bowl 1
2021

Grafitti Truck Bowl 2, Roberto Lugo American, Glazed ceramic, American — Grafitti Truck Bowl 2
2021

Grafitti Truck Bowl 3, Roberto Lugo American, Glazed ceramic, American — Grafitti Truck Bowl 3
2021

Grafitti Truck Bowl 4, Roberto Lugo American, Glazed ceramic, American — Grafitti Truck Bowl 4
2021

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

Grafitti Cup 3, Roberto Lugo American, Glazed ceramic, American — Grafitti Cup 3
2021

Grafitti Cup 4, Roberto Lugo American, Glazed ceramic, American — Grafitti Cup 4
2021

Grafitti Cup 5, Roberto Lugo American, Glazed ceramic, American — Grafitti Cup 5
2021

Grafitti Cup 6, Roberto Lugo American, Glazed ceramic, American — Grafitti Cup 6
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
2021

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

Morning Cloak, Tourmaline American, Inkjet dye sublimation on aluminium (exhibition copy), American — Morning Cloak
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
2021

Iya Ati Omo, Yinka Ilori British-Nigerian, Beech wood, enamel paint, brass, and cotton — Iya Ati Omo
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”)
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”)
2021

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Plan Your Visit

Dates

November 5, 2021–Ongoing

The Met Fifth Avenue

Free with Museum admission

Plan Your Visit All exhibitions