During the unprecedented period of liberation and decolonization across Africa, many dreamed of a continent with a boundless future. Ghana gained independence from British rule in 1957, and in 1960—often called the Year of Africa—17 nations struggling for self-determination achieved political autonomy. This upheaval ushered in a boom in cultural production and experimentation in visual art, dance, and music. Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa is the first major museum exhibition to examine the role of architecture in shaping this historic change.
Newly independent African countries wanted to project—both inward and outward—a forward-looking, progressive, and cosmopolitan self-image, and modern architecture embodied this aspiration. A new architectural identity engaged with the political ideas of Pan-Africanism and Africanization, and was shaped by architects both from the continent and abroad.
Architectural drawings, models, and archival images, as well as newly commissioned site-specific photographs and videos, are among the exhibition’s 400 objects. Nearly all are being shown publicly for the first time. Spanning Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, and Cameroon, Architects of Liberation is a revealing look at a region reimagining its future.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
Exhibition view: Group Exhibition, Architects of Liberation: Modernism in Western Africa, Museum of Modern Art (1/2/2027–2 January 2027). Courtesy Museum of Modern Art.
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is an iconic institution located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, celebrated for its pioneering collection and innovative architecture. Renowned for housing one of the world’s most significant collections of modern and contemporary art, MoMA is a must-visit destination for art enthusiasts.
