Forthcoming Talks

The Radical Practice of Black Curation

A two day convening that engages the past, present, and future of Black curation as a practice that exceeds the urgent but constraining question of making and exhibiting art in a time of “racial reckoning.”

Thursday, 11 April 2024 from 12–6pm at Princeton University

Friday, 12 April 2024 from 8pm at The Park Avenue Armory


Recent Talks

2024 Lewis-Ezekoye Distinguished Lecture in Africana Studies

A conversation between Nance and Onabanjo that centers the importance of photographic and archival work in documenting the history of Black internationalism, Pan-Africanism, and unique moments in the cultural history of the United States and throughout the African Diaspora. 

Thursday, 1 February 2024 from 6–8pm EST

The Diana Center, Barnard College

Áfricas Contemporâneas no Fotolivro

Herança estética como ato político

A conversation with curator Ana Paula Vitoria on the occasion of her presentation bringing together a selection of 21st century photobooks created by visual artists across the African continent and the diaspora. 

Tuesday, 13 June 2023 at 6.30pm BRT

Biblioteca de Fotografia, Instituto Moreira Salles, Avenida Paulista, 2424, São Paulo

Program in Portuguese

Celebrating the Legacy of Ernest Cole

In conversation with Hinde Haest, Leslie Matlaisane, and Denise Wolff on the occasion of the 2022 re-issue of Cole's House of Bondage by Aperture Foundation and the exhibition "Ernest Cole: House of Bondage" at FOAM Museum (27 Jan–10 June 2023)

Wednesday, 17 May 2023 at 1pm EDT

Online via Zoom

MoMA Forum on Contemporary Photography

Decentering the Document

Organized on the occasion of New Photography 2023: Kelani Abass, Akinbode Akinbiyi, Yagazie Emezi, Amanda Iheme, Abraham Oghobase, Karl Ohiri, and Logo Oluwamuyiwa

Wednesday, 19 April 2023 from 1.30pm EDT

Online via Zoom

Ming Smith in a Minor Key

Open Study Session

Bringing together three creative and critical practitioners—Garrett Bradley, Rizvana Bradley, and Christina Sharpe—who will each offer meditations on a single photograph from the show

Tuesday, 2 May 2023 from 6–8pm EDT

MoMA Bartos Theatre

Image: Ming Smith, Cascading Light, 1981. © Ming Smith.

The Conditions of the Archive—Marilyn Nance: Last Day in Lagos

A lecture on the making of Marilyn Nance: Last Day in Lagos for New York Art Book Fair (NYABF) Classroom Series

Sunday, 16 October 2022 at 12pm EDT

Dia Art Foundation, 537 West 22nd Street, New York.

Rehearsals of Reverence

A paired lecture with Jessica Lynne, as part of the Loophole of Retreat: Venice, on the occasion of Simone Leigh's US Pavilion, Sovereignty.

Saturday, 8 October 2022 at 1pm CEST

Fondazione Giorgio Cini

ICA Talks

In Conversation with Deborah  Willis in conjunction with Deana Lawson

Thursday, 20 January 2022 from 6pm

Streaming on icaboston.org

MoMA Forum on Contemporary Photography

Black Gazes

Wednesday, 20 October 2021 from 1.30pm EDT

A celebration of Tina M. Campt’s new book A Black Gaze: Artists Changing How We See (2021)

Online via Zoom

David Goldblatt and Beyond

A Panel Discussion with Gabi Ngcobo, Oluremi C. Onabanjo, and Jo Ractliffe

PACE Live Program for David Goldblatt: A Strange Instrument, curated by Zanele Muholi

Tuesday, March 23 2021 from 1pm EST

Online via Zoom

Creative Conversations: Eric Gyamfi and Oluremi C. Onabanjo

Houston Fotofest Talks Program

Wednesday, February 24, 2021 from 7–8pm EST

Online via Zoom

Sonia Boyce in Conversation with Gabrielle Goliath, Moderated by Oluremi C. Onabanjo

"Living Just Enough" Talks Program (Goodman Gallery & Barnard College)

Friday, Oct 23, 2020 from 1pm EST

Online via Zoom


MoMA 10th Anniversary Forum on Contemporary Photography

What Does the World Look Like in 2020?

Tuesday, Sept 22, 2020 from 12pm EST

Online via Zoom

Bucksbaum Award Program

A Conversation with Tiona Nekkia McClodden

Thursday, March 5, 2020 from 6.30–8pm EST

Whitney Museum of American Art, Floor 3, Susan and John Hess Family Gallery and Theater

The Conditions of the Archive: FESTAC 77

In Conversation with Marilyn Nance

Monday, January 27, 2020 from 6.30–8pm EST

Denniston Hill & Independent Curators International

401 Broadway, Suite 1620
New York, NY 10013

Audio Recording

Image: © Marilyn Nance (1977)

The Last Day in Lagos: Encountering Marilyn Nance’s FESTAC 77 Photographic Archive

Entanglements of Black Visual Culture: Blackness, Archives, and Performativities Panel

Thursday, October 17, 2019 from 10.45am–12.15pm EST

Black Portraitures, New York University (Kimmel Center)

Image: © Marilyn Nance (1977)

Triangulating the Outsider & Tracing Techniques of Ecstasy

There Are No Shadows Here: The Perfect Moment at 30

Lecture on Rotimi Fani-Kayode (1955–1989)

Saturday, July 20, 2019 from 3–4pm EST

Washington Project for the Arts, D.C.

Image: © Tiona Nekkia McClodden (2019)

FESTAC 77: Unpacking the Archive

In conversation with Marilyn Nance

June 11, 2019

C-MAP Africa Research Group, Museum of Modern Art, New York

Image: © Marilyn Nance (1977)

To See and Be Seen: The Photobook as a Site of Subjectivity

MassArt Photography Department Visiting Lecture

March 19, 2019 from 3.30–5pm EST

Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston

Image: Liz Johnson Artur, Berlin: Bierke (2016)

Everyone is Present

In conversation with Terry Kurgan

February 27, 2019 from 6.30–8pm EST

Magnum Foundation, New York

Regarding Frames of Representation

In conversation with Catherine E. McKinley and Laylah Amatullah Barrayn

January 22, 2019 from 7–8pm EST

DUMBO House, Brooklyn

Artist Talk

In conversation with Naima Green

June 25, 2018 from 6–8pm EST

Arsenal Gallery, Central Park

Image: © Naima Green


Living Archive

Performance after Apartheid: In Conversation with Jay Pather

May 5, 2018

1-54 FORUM

Pioneer Works, New York

Image © Katrina Sorrentino and 1-54

Points of Departure

In Conversation with Mimi Cherono Ng’ok

May 1, 2018 

Photography Expanded: Counter-Histories Symposium by Magnum Foundation

The New School, New York

Chin(A)frica: An Interface

In conversation with Samuel Fosso and He Xiangyu. Moderated by Xin Wang

March 29, 2018

Art Basel, Hong Kong

Iwalewahaus Curatorial Lecture

Research, Collecting, Exhibitions, and Publications: Developing a Curatorial Praxis

February 13, 2018

University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth


Welcome Visitors

In Conversation with Penny Siopis

January 20, 2018

The Walther Collection Project Space, New York

Using Format