March 5 2025
CALL FOR ARTISTS!
The Future Is Black & A Loved 1 invites artists to submit their work for Sacred Threads, an art exhibition that speaks to the eternal bonds of the African diaspora—opening October 9th, 2025. Sacred Threads weaves together the profound cycles of birth, life, and death—a tapestry of rituals, traditions, and the resilient spirit that connects communities across continents.
Exhibition Overview
Sacred Threads is conceived as a living testament to the enduring through lines of the African diaspora. It explores how shared experiences of joy, loss, and perseverance are passed down through generations—from the celebratory rituals of birth, through the challenges and rites of passage in life, to the sacred transformations that accompany death. Featuring artists representing the Caribbean, Americas, West Africa, Central America, South America, and Northern Africa, this exhibition serves as a dynamic platform for cultural exchange and artistic expression.
Exhibition Themes
- Birth: Celebrate the rituals of arrival, naming, and protection that connect us to our lineage and legacy.
- Life: Explore the rites of passage, resilience, and communal traditions that shape our daily existence.
- Death: Reflect on the reverence, mourning, and transformation that honor our ancestors and sustain spiritual continuity.
Call for Artists
We encourage emerging, early-career, and established artists whose work reflects the continuity of these sacred threads—how the past informs the present, how spirit moves through time, and how culture is both inherited and reimagined. All mediums will be considered.
Submission Information
- Eligibility: Open to artists of African descent. Pittsburgh-based artists, as well as those from beyond, are welcome.
- Submission Deadline: May 12, 2025
- How to Submit: Visit this link and fill out the form
- Additional Information: Contact [email protected] for further details or inquiries.
Sacred Threads invites you to contribute to this transformative conversation. Through art, story, and spirit, let us collectively witness the power of ancestral memory and cultural continuity.
Share with an artist whose vision belongs in this tapestry.
About The Future Is Black and A Loved 1
The Future Is Black
What began as a vibrant birthday celebration in a room filled with laughter, art, and the energy of friends evolved into a movement. Founded by Ahmed Tacumba Turner Jr., a Pittsburgh native with a rich background in grassroots community work and visual storytelling, The Future Is Black is dedicated to empowering creatives and amplifying Black brilliance. Through art exhibitions, immersive experiences, and community engagement, the brand champions radical reimagination—creating purposeful spaces where the past, present, and future are celebrated with joy, healing, and critical thought.
A Loved 1
Founded on February 14, 2021, by Pittsburgh-based designer and visual artist Jordan Bigelow, A Loved 1 transforms fashion into a wearable art form. Drawing inspiration from vibrant colors, expressive prints, and African Diasporic history, the brand meticulously crafts each piece using bold Ankara cotton, repurposed deadstock materials, and innovative dye techniques. More than just a slow-fashion label, A Loved 1 celebrates individuality, cultural appreciation, and sustainability—inviting communities to explore their heritage through immersive experiences and artful storytelling.
Our Shared Vision
Together, The Future Is Black and A Loved 1 form an inclusive ecosystem where art, fashion, and Diasporic cultural expression converge. We are committed to fostering spaces that inspire self-expression, preserve heritage, and catalyze transformative dialogue. Join us on a journey that honors the past, celebrates the present, and imagines a future where creativity knows no bounds.
Sacred Threads embodies A Loved 1’s mission by transforming cultural storytelling into a communal art experience. Just as the brand celebrates individuality through one-of-a-kind garments, this exhibition highlights the unique yet interconnected narratives of the African diaspora. Rooted in self-expression, ancestral reverence, and cultural sustainability, Sacred Threads extends A Loved 1’s vision beyond fashion—creating an immersive space where art, history, and identity converge. Through this exhibition, A Loved 1 continues its commitment to honoring Black heritage, fostering cultural connections, and uplifting diasporic creativity across multiple mediums.