David Driskell was a legend, an icon and artist. He was also the chair of Fisk University’s art department for a decade, and his work as a curator is considered foundational in Black American art history. His legacy, relationships and collaborations with other contemporaries were the focus of a curatorial partnership between Fisk and the Frist Art Museum, with two exhibitions simultaneously giving him his due: David C. Driskell and Friends at the Frist, and Kindred Spirits at Fisk. The partnership also marked a curatorial collaboration between Fisk University Galleries director Jamaal Sheats and Frist associate curator Michael Ewing — two powerhouse individuals who are championing Driskell’s legacy individually and together. The collaboration was one of the best parts of the 2025 arts year.
