Curator Tour of Black Cowboys in America and Journeys

Join Laura Vookles, Chair of the Curatorial Department, and Shilpi Chandra, Assistant Curator, as they discuss two powerful exhibitions currently on view in our West Wing galleries. Black Cowboys in America: Photographs by Ron Tarver illuminates the long-overlooked legacy of Black cowboy life on ranches, at rodeos, and in urban streetscapes. In Journeys, Robert Peterson’s luminous portraits elevate everyday people into timeless figures of dignity and strength, rooted in personal memory and community. In dialogue, these works challenge dominant narratives, honor lived experience, and expand our understanding of American identity.

Image: Ron Tarver (b. 1957). Texas Trail Ride (Multicultural Western Heritage Trail, Brackettville to San Antonio, TX), 1994. Pigment ink print. Courtesy of Ron Tarver.