🗓 June 20 – July 31, 2026
📍 Company, 145 Elizabeth Street
🎟️ FREE
Aya Brown makes paintings and drawings from family photographs, personal archives, and people she knows closely. For In the life, her first solo show, that process becomes a way of documenting Black queer women and their experiences of intimacy and pleasure. The exhibition’s title draws on an older Black expression for being gay or lesbian, while also referencing Joseph Beam’s landmark 1986 anthology In the Life. Brown connects that history to something personal: the sense of gathering and community she remembers from her grandmother’s storefront church in Brooklyn.
Visiting Aya Brown's exhibition "In the Life" provides a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in deeply personal and culturally rich artwork that highlights Black queer women's experiences. The use of family photographs and personal archives as a basis for her paintings creates an intimate connection between the viewer and the subjects, echoing a sense of community and shared memory. This show not only celebrates individual stories but also connects to larger historical contexts through references to Joseph Beam's 1986 anthology "In the Life," and the old Black expression for being gay or lesbian. Attending the exhibition can offer insight into how art functions as a tool for both documentation and representation of marginalized voices. The setting of the gallery at 145 Elizabeth Street, itself a hub in NYC's vibrant art scene, adds an accessible cultural experience for anyone interested in contemporary art, social history, and LGBTQ+ narratives. For those who appreciate art that blends personal history with broader social themes, Aya Brown's work is a compelling example. Moreover, the atmosphere of gathering and support, reminiscent of the artist's grandmother's storefront church in Brooklyn, invites visitors to reflect on the importance of community spaces in nurturing identity and resilience. The free admission ensures accessibility, allowing a wider audience to engage with these vital stories through powerful visual expression. If you plan to attend, consider exploring the surrounding neighborhood’s galleries and cultural landmarks, enhancing your appreciation of NYC’s diverse artistic landscape.