The Brooklyn Museum presents Seydou Keïta: A Tactile Lens, the most expansive North American presentation of the artist’s work to date, the exhibition offers a fresh look into the studio of the pioneering Malian photographer who captured the vibrant cosmopolitanism of Bamako during an era of tremendous political change.
The exhibition honors the artistry and legacy of Seydou Keïta (Malian, ca. 1921–2001), who documented a critical chapter in West African history—one of immense hope, politically and socially—in a period defined by a rapidly expanding modern world and a new sense of Bamakois identity. The show features nearly 275 works, including renowned portraits, rare images, and never- before-seen negatives as well as textiles, jewelry, dresses, and personal items that fully immerse visitors in Keïta’s rich photographic landscape. Seydou Keïta: A Tactile Lens is organized by guest curator Catherine E. McKinley with Imani Williford, Curatorial Assistant, Photography, Fashion, and Material Culture, Brooklyn Museum.
Keïta was born around 1921 to a Malinke family in Bamako-Coura, or New Bamako, a growing colonial commercial center within the historic Malian city. His childhood saw emerging liberation struggles across the continent and growing expressions of modernism as Bamako served as the capital of French Soudan and subsequently the newly independent Mali in 1960.
Keïta documented Malian society in the late 1940s to early 1960s, an era of transformation and aspirations for independent statehood. A master at lighting and composition, Keïta has a unique ability to capture the tactile qualities of his sitters—from their fashion and choice of accessories to the personality and self-presentation they put forward. In collaboration with his subjects, he sculpted their poses, clothing, and style, forming monuments to their selfhood. When they first reached Western viewers in the early 1990s, his images drew unprecedented attention in the worlds of art, music, fashion, design, and popular media, forever changing the global cultural landscape. Today, these bold and engaging portraits continue to invite viewers into direct dialogue with Keita’s sitters.
Seydou Keïta: A Tactile Lens is organized by guest curator Catherine E. McKinley with Imani Williford, Curatorial Assistant, Photography, Fashion, and Material Culture, Brooklyn Museum.
Seydou Keïta : A Tactile Lens
October 10, 2025–March 8, 2026
The Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern Parkway
Brooklyn, NY 11238
www.brooklynmuseum.org
