The Museum of
black artistic Liberation
Washington, D.C.
Big Idea:
Black Joy
Scenic Spatial Design | Experiential Narrative
Located near the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, The Museum of Black Artistic Liberation explores the theme of Black Joy. Inspired by the works of Ernie Barnes, the space invites audiences to step directly into his worlds—immersed in motion, warmth, and unapologetic bliss.
Placed on a site once known for segregation and hostility, this ground is recast as a stage for what might have been: a place where Black presence and creativity were always welcome. Stone marble and mahogany anchor the narrative—materials chosen for their gravity and resonance—while light, shadow, and framed thresholds choreograph the visitor's journey.
The museum unfolds like a film: an art gallery shifts with each new exhibition of Black artistry; a café doubles as a performance hall, housing acoustics tuned for poetry, song, and open expression.
Architecture becomes scenography—transforming the museum into a living stage for Black expression.
The Museum of Black Artistic Liberation positions architecture as scenography—an active container for performance, memory, and cultural dialogue—offering an embodied, emotionally resonant encounter with Black artistic expression.
PAVILION COURTYARD RENDERING (Figures: "The Grape Vine" Ernie Barnes {1966})
STUDY ROOM SECTION RENDERING (Figure: "The Maestro" Ernie Barnes {1978})
CAFE/ MULTIPURPOSE SPACE RENDERING (Figures: "Room Full of Sistahs" Ernie Barnes {1994})
THE MUSEUM OF BLACK ARTISTIC LIBERATION
AXON RENDERING
