2 Exhibitions Celebrating Black History Month at Lancaster Art Vault opening January 30th
PRESS RELEASE
Lancaster, PA – January 12, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Victoria Abadir
717-405-1010
Victoria@LancasterArtVault.com
Lancaster Art Vault Hosts 2 New Exhibitions in recognition of Black History Month featuring visual art, poetry, performances and works from the private collection of Beverly Smith curated by her brother, the late Lenwood Sloan.
The Lancaster Art Vault proudly presents “Expressions of Strength: A Celebration of Black Art and Identity”. This dynamic exhibition honors the creativity, resilience, and powerful voices of Black artists through a multidisciplinary experience that brings visual art, poetry, and performance together under one roof.
The month long exhibition features the work of 9 visual artists alongside the words of 13 poets, whose writing will be woven throughout the gallery, creating a rich dialogue between image and language. Also showing is “Grandma’s Walls”, an intimate exhibition on loan from the private collection of Beverly Smith, and curated by the late Lenwood Sloan, a respected historian and cultural steward in the African American community. Featuring works by artists including Charles Bibbs, Ernie Barnes, and others, the exhibition reflects Smith’s legacy as a pioneering broadcaster and her lifelong commitment to cultural literacy whose home became a gathering place where art, history, and storytelling were shared across generations.
“Expressions of Strength” and “Grandma’s Walls” runs January 30 through February 28, with a free opening reception on January 30 from 6-8:30PM featuring visual art, poetry, live performances, community and refreshments.
Featured Visual Artists:
• Keisha Finnie
• King Prolifik
• Reina 76 Artist
• Michael A. James
• Isiah Bates
• Gabrielle Baker
• Tonya Engel
• Spencer Sinclair
• Morgan Scott
Featured Poets:
• Le Hinton
• Sir Dominique Jordan
• Maria Thompson Corley
• Khalisah Hameed
• Jonathan Kedrock
• Gabriel Angrand (also known as AVG)
• Malia Burris
• Danitra Tierra
• KP Ultra
• Kirsten Lindemuth
• Ruel Rahim
• Beimnet Getahun
• Shelby Wormley
Opening Reception – January 30th 6:00PM-8:30PM:
Celebrate the opening of this extraordinary exhibition with an evening of art, community, and live performances. The reception will feature a spoken word experience led by Sir Dominique Jordan and others, African Drumming performed by Gerri McCritty & the PAVAA Crew, a live fire painting by King Prolifik, and refreshments and celebration.
Featured Spoken Word Performances on January 30th:
• AVG
• King Prolifik
• KP Ultra
• Le Hinton
• Danitra Tierra
• Ruel Rahim
• Beimnet Getahun
• Shelby E. Wormley(Shelby Speaks)
• and Joshua Beltre on music
Guests will enjoy: Light fare and a cash bar provided in partnership with Mark and Val Wines and Gourmet Market Lancaster.
Event Details:
• Exhibition Dates: January 30 – February 28, 2026
• Opening Reception: January 30, 2026 – 6:00-8:30PM
• First Friday Celebration: February 6, 2026 – 5:30-8:30PM
• Lancaster City’s Art and Coffee Crawl: February 14, 10AM-2PM
• Location: Lancaster Art Vault, 100 North Queen Street, Lancaster, PA
• Admission: Free and open to the public
For more information, please contact Victoria Abadir at Victoria@LancasterArtVault.com or 717-405-1010.
About the Lancaster Art Vault: The Lancaster Art Vault is a unique destination for creatives and collectors located in downtown Lancaster. LAV is committed to showcasing diverse voices and fostering meaningful dialogue through art. As a working gallery with over 24 resident artists in studio, visitors can engage with the artists, learn about their creative processes, and discover the stories behind their works. With a history of presenting thought-provoking exhibitions and over 15,000 square feet of open gallery space, the gallery continues to be a cultural cornerstone in Lancaster, PA.