Tawny Chatmon’s Portraits Take Center Stage at the National Museum of Women in the Arts

By Mia Pech

The National Museum of Women in the Arts is currently showing the work of acclaimed artist Tawny Chatmon this fall in a solo exhibition named “Tawny Chatmon: Sanctuaries of Truth, Dissolution of Lies.” The exhibit includes richly layered, photography-based works. It opened on October 15 and will remain on view through March 8, 2026.

Featuring more than 25 large-scale photographs created between 2019 and today, the show reflects Chatmon’s signature fusion of portrait photography with historical decorative motifs and stylistic language drawn from African American cultural traditions. The result is a collection of lush, reverent portraits that challenge racism and erasure while honoring Black life.

Central to Tawny Chatmon’s work is the celebration of Black childhood, Black resistance and self-determination and she often uses her own family members as models. “I originally planned to focus primarily on historical figures as the iconographic imagery,” Chatmon said in an interview with The Georgetowner. “But as I progressed, I felt it was important to focus on the icons within our own families and communities.”

She added, “It is so natural. It just makes sense. My children are what really inspired me to create and it feels amazing to watch them see themselves in cases like this.”

Selections from Chatmon’s series “The Reconciliation” continue her tradition of portraying Black subjects in poses of beauty, strength and power. In these works, the sitters appear with foods connected to communities throughout the African diaspora.

“The work that features my daughter holding the watermelon is a very important piece for that series,” Chatmon said. “The watermelon is actually how black farmers after the emancipation gained financial independence and the stereotype was created to sabotage that success.”

Works from Chatmon’s series “The Restoration” are displayed in an intimate gallery adjacent to the central space. In this body of work, Chatmon transforms dolls and figurines from the early 20^th century that depict black figures in demanding ways and reflect harmful racial stereotypes. Aiming to remove these objects from the market, she sources cloth “Mammy” dolls from antique stores and online auctions, then gives them new life by sensitively repainting their features and dressing them in richly detailed new outfits.

Photos by Mia Pech from the exhibit below.

tagsdc artsDissolution of Liesmuseum exhibitsNational Museum of Women in the ArtsNMWAportraituretawny chatmonTawny Chatmon: Sanctuaries of Truthvisual arts