Championing Black Art: A Conversation with Myrtis Bedolla 

Gallerist, curator, and art advisor Myrtis Bedolla brings her popular "Tea with Myrtis" event to SAAM in this rich panel discussion. The series is inspired by a deep appreciation for the transformative power of art and a desire to create a space where meaningful conversations about contemporary art can thrive. A passionate leader and champion of promoting and collecting African American art, Bedolla engages in a lively conversation with art collectors, scholars, and arts professionals. Participants include Mel Hardy, art collector and co-founder of DC-based organization Millennium Arts Salon; Leslie King-Hammond, art historian and founding director of the Center for Race and Culture at the Maryland Institute College of Art; Stephanie Stebich, the Margaret and Terry Stent Director of SAAM; and Lowery Stokes Sims, art historian. This program was presented in person and online at the Smithsonian American Art Museum on Saturday, February 25, 2024.