Thus masked, the world has a language: Group Exhibition

Exhibition Dates: June 6 – August 23, 2025
Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11 AM – 6 PM
Location: Mariane Ibrahim, Chicago

Mariane Ibrahim is proud to present Thus masked, the world has a language, a compelling group exhibition examining the rich and complex traditions of masquerade and mask-making across the African diasporas of Mexico, the Caribbean, and the United States. Running from June 6 through August 23, the exhibition is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, from 11 AM to 6 PM.

The show brings together a powerful roster of contemporary artists—Raphaël Barontini, Lorraine O’Grady, Nick Cave, Ebony G. Patterson, Darryl Richardson, and Tavares Strachan—whose practices span photography, sculpture, collage, and performance. Through their work, the mask becomes more than an object; it is a performative vessel for memory, resistance, and transformation.

Featured works, such as Strachan’s Self Portrait: Loyalty to the Past (Blue Guro Mask) (2023), explore the mask as a conduit for ancestral dialogue, identity, and concealment. Each artist delves into the spiritual and political resonance of masquerade—where visibility, erasure, and cultural reclamation intersect.

From carnival processions to ritual invocations, Thus masked, the world has a language invites viewers to consider the mask not only as a symbol of heritage but as an active force of communal power and storytelling.