Opening Celebration for "Presence of Color: Jeremy Okai Davis"

Join us for an evening of art, culture, and community at the opening celebration of Presence of Color: Jeremy Okai Davis.

Presence of Color explores racial biases ingrained in photographic technology and broadens the conversation by questioning the politics of seeing. Through a critical reimagining of Kodak's mid-20th-century "Shirley" cards, reinterpretations of Black portraiture, and the inclusion of archival images from Jet and Hue magazines, Davis challenges the historical dominance of white ness in visual culture.

Discover Davis's deeply meaningful art and learn about the inspiration behind his work in an artist talk with Dr. Tamara Holmes Brothers, Director of Program Outreach & Engagement for the North Carolina Department of Natural & Cultural Resources.

We hope to see you there! For directions and parking, tap/click here.

Image credit: Jeremy Okai Davis, Rükenfigur (Melvin Van Peebles), detail, 2025, acrylic on canvas over panel, Courtesy Elizabeth Leach Gallery.

About the Artist

Jeremy Okai Davis (b. Charlotte, NC) received a BFA in painting from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He relocated to Portland, OR, in 2007, where he continues his studio practice alongside work as a graphic designer and illustrator. His work has been shown nationally at the Studio Museum of Harlem (New York, NY), the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (Portland, OR), Wa Na Wari (Seattle, WA), and the Rotating Art Program at Portland International Airport (Portland, OR).

His work is included in the permanent collections of the Lonnie B. Harris Black Cultural Center at Oregon State University and the Portland Art Museum. Elizabeth Leach Gallery represents him.

Photo courtesy of Ryan Warner