Black Futures in Art Exhibition Opening Reception

On View Feb 19 – March 29 | Opening Reception: Feb 20, 5 – 8 PM
Fourth Annual Exhibition at the Dairy Arts Center | Curated by Adderly Grant-Lord

Now in its fourth year at the Dairy Arts Center, Black Futures in Art is a sweeping, annual exhibition presented in celebration of Black History Month and in ongoing recognition of Black artistry and excellence year-round. Curated by Adderly Grant-Lord, the exhibition brings together Black artists from Colorado and across the United States, highlighting a broad range of practices, voices, and visions shaping contemporary art today.

This year’s exhibition is grounded in the theme “The excellence beneath our feet lives in our bones,” a poetic meditation on legacy, inheritance, and resilience. The exhibition looks to what has been buried, erased, or overlooked in both past and present, while honoring the enduring knowledge, creativity, and excellence that persist across generations. Through visual art, the exhibition considers how memory, land, body, and ancestry carry stories forward, and how art becomes a conduit for community, reflection, and dialogue around the past, present, and future.

Black Futures in Art creates space for both celebration and critical engagement, inviting audiences to witness how artists navigate history, imagine possibility, and cultivate collective understanding. The exhibition is accompanied by a robust slate of public programming, including film screenings, artist talks, a lecture series, hands-on workshops — and a special live musical performance at the Opening Reception.

 Opening Reception Musicians

The evening will feature a dynamic ensemble of Colorado-based musicians whose practices bridge classical training, jazz lineage, and contemporary experimentation:

Joe Tabano (Trumpet) – A Denver-born and raised trumpet player, Joe’s roots in jazz are shaped by mentorship connected to the lineage of Ron Miles. Having toured throughout the United States and Europe, his sound blends traditional jazz sensibility with expansive improvisation and expressive depth.

Liv Stephfano (Cello) – A Horizon High School student and accomplished young cellist, Liv was selected for the district-wide Honors Concert and earned 2nd Chair among 15 top performers — a testament to her dedication and musical excellence.

Josias Gilmore (Electric Guitar) – An accomplished guitarist with several years of performance experience, Josias has played iconic stages including Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Fillmore Auditorium, and Paramount Theatre, bringing versatility and stage presence to every performance.

Phillip Cutler (Violin) – A Fort Collins–based violinist with over 13 years of training, Phillip bridges classical discipline with contemporary exploration. Having participated in Colorado All-State Orchestras and studied under Mark Woods of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, his work blends orchestral precision with modern energy, drawing from classical, fiddle, jazz, and electronic influences.

Together, these musicians create a layered sonic environment that echoes the exhibition’s themes of inheritance, evolution, and living legacy.