Lavett Ballard Exhibit Opening & Artist Talk
Pittsburgh, PA 15222 United States
Location: Highmark Room, AWAACC
Exhibition: Lavett Ballard: a Rose is a Rose is a Rose
Moderated by: Jessica Lanay
Guest Speaker: Dr. Brittany Webb
The August Wilson African American Cultural Center invites you to the opening of Lavett Ballard: a Rose is a Rose is a Rose, an exhibition of mixed-media assemblages—varying in shape, scale, and texture—grounded in Ballard’s richly layered narrative style. Through reclaimed wooden fences, collage, and historical imagery, Ballard explores the intersections of womanist theologies, materiality, and representations of Black femininity across time.
The title draws inspiration from cultural icons August Wilson, Aretha Franklin, and Gertrude Stein—each using “Rose” as a symbol of beauty, transformation, and truth. In Ballard’s hands, “rose” becomes a rhythmic refrain, a visual call and response linking African spiritual traditions with contemporary Black womanhood in works such as Tomorrow was Beautiful (2025), Righteousness & Rituals (2023), and Ashe, So be it (2022).
The evening will feature an exhibition viewing, a reception with light refreshments, and a conversation about Ballard’s work and its cultural resonances, moderated by Jessica Lanay, host of AWAACC’s LIT Friday series, with guest Dr. Brittany Webb. Together, they will explore the power, symbolism, and storytelling embedded in Ballard’s art.
Schedule
| Time | Activity | |
| 3:00 PM | Doors Open | Exhibition Opens to the public (Staircase Gallery) |
| 4:00-5:00 PM | Reception Starts | Informal mingling, artist present, light refreshments (wine and cheese) music on in Highmark Room, self-guided tour |
| 5:00 PM | Artist Talk: Lavett Ballard in Conversation | Moderated by Jessica Lanay, with guest Dr. Brittany Webb |
| 5:45–6:00 PM | Audience Q&A | |
| 6:00PM | Closing Remarks / Transition to Intermission |