Lam Basquiat Songye

The human figure becomes a vehicle for exploring identity, memory and spiritual power in an exhibition connecting Caribbean and African American painting with Central African sculpture. Lam Basquiat Songye is on view December 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027 at Gary Nader Art Centre in Wynwood.

Approximately 35 paintings and works on paper by Wifredo Lam and Jean-Michel Basquiat appear alongside Songye power figures and ritual objects from the region now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The exhibition considers correspondences among the works while preserving their distinct histories and cultural functions.

Cuban-born Lam merges human, animal and botanical forms in figures shaped by Caribbean ancestry and spiritual traditions. Brooklyn-born Basquiat combines fragmented anatomy, language and layered imagery to address race, history and self-definition. The Songye sculptures introduce objects created for ritual and social purposes, extending the exhibition’s exploration of protection, belief and unseen forces.

Founded by art dealer Gary Nader, the center presents modern and contemporary art with an emphasis on Latin American artists.