An exploration of contemporary African masquerade that reveals its cultural contexts, artistic innovations, and intersection with museum collection practices

By placing masquerade at the forefront of contemporary African art, this volume shows how masquerade is a dynamic and urban phenomenon shaped by shifting global concerns. Essays examine the lack of institutional recognition offered to present-day masquerade artists and the methods used to curate masquerade art at the museum level. An international group of scholars and artists explore the motivations and creative decisions of masquerade artists, highlighting their stories and providing a nuanced understanding of masquerade as a contemporary expression of human experience.

This lavishly illustrated study includes more than 150 images, artist's biographies, in-depth analyses of masquerade ensembles in relation to themes of collaboration, economics, and meaning, and a discussion of the methodologies for ethically commissioning and acquiring masquerade art.

Distributed for the New Orleans Museum of Art

Exhibition Schedule:

New Orleans Museum of Art

(April 4-August, 2025)

Frist Museum, Nashville

(September 2025-January 2026)

National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian, Washington, DC

(August 2026-February 2027)

Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, FL

(April/May-August 2027)

Concurrently with:

Museum of Black Civilization, Dakar, Senegal

(TBD)

Sierra Leone National Museum, Freetown

(TBD)

National Museum of Calabar, Nigeria

(TBD)