The Union County Board of County Commissioners is honoring Black History Month with an art exhibit at the Commissioners Gallery featuring the works of three local artists: Mansa Mussa, Brian Branch Price and Lydia Watson. The exhibit, which runs through Feb. 28, showcases a diverse range of artistic styles and mediums.
“This exhibit not only highlights the talent of our local artists but also provides a space for storytelling, history, and cultural expression,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “We invite residents to visit the Commissioners Gallery and experience these powerful pieces firsthand as we honor Black History Month through the arts.”
Mussa, a Newark native and graduate of New Jersey City University, is a photographer who has documented events across the United States, Caribbean, Africa, Central America, and Europe. He currently teaches various art forms at institutions such as the Union County Teen Arts Festival, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, the Montclair Museum of Art, and the Newark Museum.
Branch Price, a Plainfield native and Howard University graduate, is an American reportage and portrait photographer whose works are in the permanent collections of the Plainfield Public Library, The Harn Museum at the University of Florida, and the Major Taylor Museum.
Watson, the artist behind Watsart, is a Plainfield resident whose creations blend intricate details of stippling/pointillism with bold, abstract elements inspired by the elegance of nature. She believes that art should be accessible to all and offers a variety of prints along with original artworks.
“Art has the power to preserve history, and we are honored to highlight these artists and their work in celebration of Black History Month,” said Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski, who serves on the Union County Cultural & Heritage Advisory Board.
The Commissioners Gallery is located on the 6th floor of the Union County Administration Building at 10 Elizabethtown Plaza in Elizabeth. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays.
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Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff.