Samella! Black as Lacquer and Iron

Saturday, August 15, 2026

A seminal figure in 20th-century American art, Dr. Samella Lewis was an art historian, educator, philanthropist, and artist. Curated by Francine Farr, the exhibition illuminates her extraordinary life and global legacy as the first tenured black professor at Scripps College, founder of the Museum of African American Art, and her efforts to channel the power of art and art history to build community and address the struggle for equality for Black, Asian, and Indigenous Americans.

View event at clmoa.org

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About Claremont Museum of Art

The museum is uniquely housed in the historic Claremont train station, a landmark that now preserves the area's artistic legacy. It serves as a cultural hub that promotes the region's vitality through rotating exhibits and community-focused programming.story_potoo