Ben Jones, High Priestess of Soul (detail), 1970

Dreamtime in Newark: Aljira and the Making of Global Contemporary Art

October 15, 2026 – June 20, 2027 | The Newark Museum of Art, New Jersey

Willie Cole is featured in Dreamtime in Newark: Aljira and the Making of Global Contemporary Art at The Newark Museum of Art, a landmark exhibition celebrating the 35-year history and enduring influence of Aljira, a Center for Contemporary Art.

Co-curated by Alliyah Allen and Tricia Laughlin Bloom, Senior Curator of American Art, the exhibition brings together works by 46 artists, including Dawoud Bey, El Anatsui, Derrick Adams, Firelei Báez, David Driskell, Frank Bowling, Mickalene Thomas, and Willie Cole.

Organized in collaboration with The Aljira Archive Project, the exhibition recognizes Aljira’s pioneering commitment to supporting underrepresented artists, fostering experimentation, and establishing Newark as an important center for contemporary artistic and curatorial practice.

Cole’s inclusion underscores his longstanding connection to New Jersey’s artistic community and his contribution to the broader history of contemporary American art.