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A Visual exploration of black men's joy.

smile, bro

 About the exhibit:

Curated by Al Bowman

Smile, Bro. is a national contemporary art exhibition exploring Black men’s mental health, emotional expression, healing, joy, and vulnerability through visual storytelling. Presented by Black Artist Forward in partnership with Al Bowman, the exhibition features more than 30 artists from across the United States and opens June 5, 2026, at Region Six Project in downtown Fayetteville.

Zairis TéJoin Miles - Mike's Smile.jpg

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Black Joy, Vulnerability, and Emotional Expression

Smile, Bro. is a contemporary Black art exhibition and cultural experience exploring Black men’s mental health, emotional expression, joy, healing, and vulnerability through art and community connection.

Featuring work from emerging and independent Black artists from across the country, the exhibition invites visitors into an immersive environment where visual art, music, conversation, and interactive experiences come together to encourage reflection, emotional wellness, and authentic human connection.

Rather than centering survival alone, Smile, Bro. creates space for softness, rest, celebration, humor, identity, and emotional honesty among Black men. Through painting, photography, mixed media, and contemporary visual storytelling, the exhibition challenges limiting narratives surrounding Black masculinity while fostering dialogue around healing through art and community care.

Throughout the exhibition, visitors can also participate in programs and community conversations focused on men’s mental health, wellness, creativity, and personal growth.

Presented in collaboration with Black Artist Forward, Smile, Bro. supports the organization’s mission to expand opportunities, resources, and visibility for Black artists throughout North Carolina and beyond.

Special thanks to Region Six Project for supporting this exhibition and creating space for contemporary Black art and cultural dialogue in downtown Fayetteville.

Additional support provided by KTube and The Tulsa Initiative.

Shop the Exhibit

Featured Artists

Asiyana Ambrose.jpeg

Asiyana Ambrose

Mar-keith De’Quan.jpeg

Mar-keith De’Quan

Damian Jefferson.jpg

Damian Jefferson

Jaslynn Peterson.jpg

Jaslynn Peterson

Raynaldo Smalls.jpeg

Raynaldo Smalls

Demar Walker.jpeg

Demar Walker

ashton bennett.jpeg

Asheton Bennett

Lauren Falls.jpg

Lauren Falls

Teddy Johnson lll.jpeg

Teddy Johnson lll

D'yanis Reed.jpg

D'yanis Reed

Zairis TéJoin Miles - Mike's Smile.jpg

Zairis TéJion

Samod Wilson - Fragments of Him.jpg

Samod Wilson

Atom BLK.jpeg

Atom BLK

Thomas Ferguson.jpeg

Thomas Ferguson

April Mata

April Mata

Johnathan “Slim” Robertson.jpg

Johnathan “Slim” Robertson

Shawn Trail.jpg

Shawn Trail

Justin Chaplin.jpeg

Justin Chaplin

Jason Hawkes.jpeg

Jason Hawkes

JaLisa McCullough - Clean Ahh Cut.jpeg

JaLisa McCullough

Demi Sanders.jpeg

Demi Sanders

Melanie Waithe.jpg

Melanie Waithe

meet the artists

Asiyana Ambrose.jpeg

My work dives into the often unseen world of men's mental health. With a 16x24in canvas, I use vibrant acrylics to create the emotional duality many men carry beneath the surface. By splitting the face into contrasting colors, I wanted to show the internal conflict between the emotions that are shown to the world and the emotions that are hidden. The bright yellow symbolizes the outward appearance of joy, energy, and composure, while the blue side reflects sadness, anger, and emotional weight often left unspoken.

editedit

Asiyana Ambrose - Fayetteville, NC

support the movement

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