Lancaster Art Vault Opens Two Black History Month Exhibitions: Expressions of Strength & Grandma’s Walls

Black History Month arrives in Lancaster with two exhibitions under one roof, both rooted in community, memory, and creative legacy. From January 30 through February 28, Lancaster Art Vault presents Expressions of Strength: A Celebration of Black Art and Identity, alongside Grandma’s Walls, an intimate exhibition on loan from the private collection of Beverly Smith and curated by her brother, the late Lenwood Sloan.

Together, the shows offer two entry points into Black cultural expression: one that brings visual art, poetry, and live performance into conversation, and another that traces the power of collecting as a family practice, where art lives on the walls and stories travel across generations.

Expressions of Strength

Expressions of Strength is built as a multidisciplinary experience, bringing together the work of nine visual artists and thirteen poets. Poetry appears throughout the gallery, creating a steady dialogue between image and language as viewers move through the space.

Featured Visual Artists

• Keisha Finnie
• King Prolifik
• Reina 76 Artist
• Michael A. James
• Isiah Bates
• Gabrielle Baker
• Tonya Engel
• Spencer Sinclair
• Morgan Scott

Featured Poets

• Le Hinton
• Sir Dominique Jordan
• Maria Thompson Corley
• Khalisah Hameed
• Jonathan Kedrock
• Gabriel Angrand (AVG)
• Malia Burris
• Danitra Tierra
• KP Ultra
• Kirsten Lindemuth
• Ruel Rahim
• Beimnet Getahun
• Shelby Wormley

Grandma’s Walls

Ernie Barnes, The Sugar Shack, 1976, acrylic on canvas. Courtesy of Lancaster Art Vault

Grandma’s Walls draws from the private collection of Beverly Smith, a pioneering broadcaster whose home became a gathering place shaped by art, history, and storytelling. Curated by her brother, the late Lenwood Sloan, the exhibition reflects a family legacy of cultural stewardship and the kind of collecting that doubles as living education.

The show features works by nationally recognized artists, including Charles Bibbs and Ernie Barnes, alongside additional pieces from Smith’s collection.

Dates to Know

Opening Reception: January 30, 2026 (6:00–8:30 PM)

The exhibitions open with a free public reception on January 30 from 6:00–8:30 PM, featuring art, community, and live performances throughout the evening. Guests can expect a spoken word experience led by Sir Dominique Jordan and other featured poets, African drumming performed by Gerri McCritty & the PAVAA Crew, and a live fire painting by King Prolifik. Featured spoken word performers include: AVG, King Prolifik, KP Ultra, Le Hinton, Danitra Tierra, Ruel Rahim, Beimnet Getahun, and Shelby E. Wormley (Shelby Speaks), with Joshua Beltre on music.

First Friday Celebration: February 6, 2026 (5:30–8:30 PM)

Lancaster City’s Art and Coffee Crawl: February 14, 2026 (10:00 AM–2:00 PM)

About Lancaster Art Vault

Lancaster Art Vault is a working gallery in downtown Lancaster with more than 24 resident artists in studio and over 15,000 square feet of open gallery space. Visitors can engage with artists, learn about their processes, and explore exhibitions that spotlight diverse voices and meaningful dialogue through art.