As We Rise: Photography from the Black Atlantic
@saatchi_gallery Final 2 weeks! ★★★★★ The Guardian. Portrait photography as a way to capture Black self-expression, blending famous and unknown artists while showcasing everyday Black Atlantic stories that feel both ordinary and powerful. Visit: https://www.saatchigallery.com/exhibition/as-we-rise-photography-from-the-black-atlantic
This exhibition explores African Diasporic culture through photography. Organized by Aperture and curated by Elliott Ramsey, it features works by Black artists from Canada, the U.S., the U.K., the Caribbean, and Africa.
The exhibition celebrates the Wedge Collection, Canada’s largest private collection championing Black artists, established by Dr. Kenneth Montague in 1997. It highlights themes of community, identity, and power while showcasing the complexity, beauty, and strength of Black life.
It features renowned artists like Horace Ové, James Barnor, and Gordon Parks, alongside emerging talents such as Texas Isaiah and Arielle Bobb-Willis.
An accompanying book, As We Rise: Photography from the Black Atlantic (Aperture, 2021), and limited-edition vinyl, As We Rise: Sounds from the Black Atlantic (Aperture, 2023), are available in the Gallery Shop and Saatchi Store Online.
About Elliott Ramsey
Elliott Ramsey is the curator of The Polygon Gallery in Vancouver, Canada. He earned his Master’s in Comparative Media Arts from Simon Fraser University in 2015. Ramsey is an alumnus of the Professional Alliance for Curators of Colour and has served on numerous panels and art juries, including the Sobey Award and Capture Photography Festival.
About Dr. Kenneth Montague and the Wedge Collection
Dr. Kenneth Montague founded the Wedge Collection in 1997 to showcase art exploring Black life. He also launched Wedge Curatorial Projects, a non-profit supporting emerging Black artists. Montague is a Toronto-based collector, a trustee of Aperture Foundation, and a member of Tate Modern’s African acquisitions committee. In 2016, he received an honorary doctorate from OCAD University.
The Wedge Collection highlights Black creativity through community-focused exhibitions and collaborations worldwide.
