The Walker Art Center is set to unveil an extraordinary exhibition, Suzanne Jackson: What Is Love, from May 14, 2026, to August 23, 2026. This highly anticipated event marks the first major museum retrospective dedicated to the groundbreaking work of artist Suzanne Jackson. The exhibition, co-organized by the Walker and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), promises to offer a comprehensive survey of Jackson's artistic journey, spanning six decades of innovation and creativity. The show will showcase over 50 works, providing a deep dive into Jackson's unique artistic vision and her lifelong dedication to exploring the multifaceted nature of love.
Jackson's artistic practice is characterized by a profound exploration of both the earthly and spiritual dimensions of love. Her work challenges stereotypical notions of Blackness, embracing complexity and tenderness through joyful experimentations with color and materiality. In her early figurative works, Jackson's reverence for memory and ancestral lineage is evident through loose washes of paint. As her career progressed, she transitioned towards abstraction, guided by the belief that beauty is an act of care and a means of survival. This evolution in her style is a testament to Jackson's commitment to pushing artistic boundaries and exploring new forms of expression.
What sets Jackson apart is her diverse background as a dancer, poet, educator, gallerist, costume and set designer, and arts administrator. However, she remains steadfast in her identity as a painter, and her distinct painting practice is a central focus of the exhibition. From her ethereal compositions on canvas to her more recent three-dimensional paintings, Jackson's work is a celebration of innovation in material and form. In her latest creations, paint is liberated from the canvas, creating luminous compositions that are suspended in midair, grounded in a translucent base.
The exhibition is curated by Taylor Jasper, Susan and Rob White Associate Curator, Visual Arts, with support from Laurel Rand-Lewis, Curatorial Fellow, Visual Arts. Jasper highlights Jackson's extraordinary career, stating, 'Jackson has built an extraordinary practice over decades; one that joins formal rigor with sensuality, feeling, and fierce independence.' The exhibition is not just a showcase of Jackson's work but also a testament to her impact on the art world, challenging the categories used to contain her and emphasizing her essential role in the story of American art.
The Walker Art Center's presentation of the exhibition is made possible with significant support from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the John Gabbert and the Room & Board Foundation Exhibition Fund, the Pohlad Family, John Taft and Laura Delaney Taft, Carlo Bronzini Vender, Deborah and John Christakos, and Susan and Rob White. This exhibition is a must-see for art enthusiasts, offering a unique perspective on love and beauty through the lens of a pioneering artist, and it will travel to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, following its debut at the Walker.
In my opinion, this exhibition is a testament to the power of artistic expression and the importance of celebrating diverse voices in the art world. Jackson's work challenges stereotypes and embraces complexity, making it a truly remarkable and thought-provoking experience. The exhibition's exploration of love as a political force and a means of survival is a powerful reminder of the impact art can have on our understanding of the world.
