How to Build a Queen

A dream is a vision gifted to us from the place of beginnings. Dreams give voice to the voiceless. Dreams render that which is unseen. Dreams are the drivers of all creativity and the source of all wealth. They are the pathway to the infinite and the key to any step towards freedom or liberation. If all dreams were considered to be a healing ground, then they must go without neglect. Dreams are the river to justice.

Presented in partnership between Blanc Gallery and FINDING IJEOMA, How to Build a Queendom invites participating artists to present recent and new works that exemplify shared values fundamental to Black women’s creativity. Through a series of visual artworks, sound, literature, and activations, the exhibition probes the following questions:

what are the attributes of a queendom? who lives in a queendom?
how does society benefit from queendoms?
what are the conditions needed to sustain a queendom?
how do women artists come together to keep creativity, community, and the right to dream sacred?

If the practice of creativity is an essential function of being free, then the environments in which artists live, work, and play must be protected. In this public experience— part dream, part forum, part exhibition, How to Build a Queendom seeks to address principal practices and aesthetics held amongst women artists in order to establish new visions driven by love, legacy, and longevity.

Participating Artists

Alexandria Eregbu, Amanda Christine Harth, Andrea Coleman, Anwulika Anigbo, Ayana Chavis, Barédu Ahmed, Breanna Robinson, Briana Clearly, Janelle Ayana Miller, Krista Franklin, Kyel Joi Brooks, Lamiah Gholar, Lola Ayisha Ogbara, Patricia of Chicago, Rhonda L. Wheatley, Sadie Woods, Shani Crowe, SHENEQUA, zakkiyyah najeebah dumas o’neal.

About the Curator

FINDING IJEOMA is a creative platform and curatorial consulting firm dedicated to providing meaningful experiences to thrive across art, music, and community. FINDING IJEOMA aims to enhance the creative environment for women and youth to lead, experience, and participate in new forms of abundance within daily life.