First Time Ever I Saw Your Face | Harlem Opening Reception
The Colored Girls Museum × The Children’s Art Carnival
First Time Ever I Saw Your Face Harlem
Exhibition Dates: September 12 – November 2, 2025
Opening Reception: Friday, September 12 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (RSVP)
First Time Ever I Saw Your Face is a traveling group exhibition commissioned by The Colored Girls Museum (TCGM). The exhibition’s title—drawn from Roberta Flack’s iconic 1972 vocal rendition—was chosen by TCGM Founder Vashti DuBois as a love song to Black girlhood.
Tasked with creating portraits of Black girls ages 10–18, the series originally featured six artist-muse pairs:
- Misha McGlown & Madison Proctor
- Nile Livingston & Tyjanae Williams
- Chanell Phillips & Christen Harvey
- Serena Saunders & Myka Ollison
- Aysha Ray Walker & Haley Ray
- Tara Pearson (aka Misty Sol) & Ayah Pearson
In partnership with TCGM, The Children’s Art Carnival (CAC) has commissioned four additional Harlem-based artists to contribute new portraits to the series:
- Moses Harper & Cayla McTair
- Kephera Ife & Shiloh Lecky
- Gwendolyn Black & Zoe Browner
- Amber Doniere & Tyoné Hunley-Williams
Together, these works form a collection of ten powerful portraits celebrating Black girlhood.
On View: September 12 – November 2, 2025
Opening Reception: Friday, September 12 | 6:00–8:00 PM
Location: The Children’s Art Carnival, 62 Hamilton Terrace, Harlem
Gallery Hours: Saturday & Sunday, 12:00–5:00 PM
Weekday visits by appointment only
Email: [email protected]
First Time Ever I Saw Your Face is made possible with funding from West Harlem Development Corporation, New York Council on the Arts, Harlem Development Corporation, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the Ruth Foundation for The Arts and donations from New York Film Academy and Hamilton Heights community and beyond.
