The Sankofa Black Art Expo is taking over Shaker Square for three days of Black art, music and conversation.
The free expo runs Friday through Sunday, Sept. 18-20, bringing Cleveland-area artists, galleries, collectors and art lovers together for exhibitions, artist talks and opportunities to purchase original artwork and prints.
This weekend also marks the return of a Cleveland arts tradition after a 15-year absence.
Originally known as the Sankofa Fine Art Expo, the event ran from 2001 to 2011. Its return will bring a new generation of artists and art lovers to Shaker Square while reconnecting with the event’s history of showcasing Black visual artists.
The expo is being held in collaboration with the 15th annual Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival, pairing visual art with a weekend celebrating Black film and filmmakers.
Black Cleveland artists take the spotlight
At the center of the returning expo is “One Powerful Community,” an exhibition exploring community, resilience and identity through painting, photography and mixed media.
The exhibition, located inside Kamron Khan Photography Studio at 13200 Shaker Square, will feature work from Stina Aleah, Nana Kwesi Agyare, Davon Brantley, Myrya Johnson, Sylvia Munodawafa, Vince Robinson and Jerome White.
White, a Cleveland-born artist, muralist and longtime art educator, is this year’s featured artist.
“I am deeply honored to be the featured artist for the 2026 Sankofa Fine Art Expo,” White said. “This recognition celebrates not only my artistic journey, but also the power of Black art to preserve our history, honor our ancestors, and inspire future generations.”
That connection between art, history and community has long been part of White’s work.
His paintings explore everything from music and sports to family, spirituality and the human condition. Influenced by artists including Charles White and John Biggers, White uses figurative imagery and symbolism to tell stories about Black history, resilience, beauty and cultural memory.
For the returning expo, he created “One Powerful Community,” a 36-by-24-inch acrylic painting that shares its name with the spotlight exhibition.
White describes his approach to making art almost like making gumbo — bringing together different styles, textures and colors to create something that, in his words, “sticks to your soul.”
Meet the artists — and take some art home
The weekend isn’t limited to looking at artwork on gallery walls.
On the Shaker Square South Lawn, the Black Art Expo Tent will feature 12 Cleveland artists and representatives from Black-owned galleries. Visitors can talk directly with artists about their work and purchase original pieces and prints.
The weekend kicks off Friday with the expo open from 5 to 9 p.m., followed by an opening celebration from 7 to 9 p.m. featuring DJ Candi Fresca and refreshments.
Saturday’s “Three Takes” puts the artists themselves in the conversation. From 2 to 4 p.m., participating artists will answer three questions about their creative practices and the stories behind some of their most memorable work.
On Sunday, artists featured in “One Powerful Community” will gather for a deeper conversation about their work and the exhibition’s themes of community, resilience and identity. The artist talk runs from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Kamron Khan Photography Studio.
Bringing a Cleveland Black arts tradition back
Sankofa Fine Art Plus was founded in Cleveland in 1999 by art enthusiasts who wanted to increase appreciation for Black visual art and create opportunities for Black artists. Its work has since expanded to include exhibitions, arts education, community events and collaborative mural projects.
Now, more than two decades after the first Sankofa Fine Art Expo and 15 years after its last, the gathering is returning to Shaker Square.
The Sankofa Black Art Expo is free and open to the public.
Get more information about the Sankofa Black Art Expo