Atlanta’s creative community gathered Saturday night for a celebration rooted in legacy, lineage, and forward momentum.
Mayor Andre Dickens attended the African Diaspora Art Museum of Atlanta’s (ADAMA) annual Flowers & Seeds Gala on February 21 — an immersive evening honoring artists whose work reflects the depth and evolution of the African Diaspora.
Part celebration, part cultural investment, the gala highlights both established and emerging visual artists while raising support for ADAMA’s future growth.
A night centered on artistic lineage
The Flowers & Seeds Gala is built around a simple but powerful idea: honor those who paved the way while nurturing the next generation.
Each year, ADAMA recognizes a “Flower” — an established artist whose work has shaped the cultural landscape — and a “Seed,” an early-career artist whose voice is helping shape what comes next.
The 2026 honorees reflect that generational dialogue.
Lynn Marshall Linnemeier, this year’s Flower honoree, has spent more than four decades creating work that explores memory, history, and place through photography, mixed media, and installation. Her projects often center ancestral memory and African American cultural traditions, with exhibitions spanning institutions such as the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Seed honoree Ayana Ross, a metro Atlanta artist, brings a contemporary perspective through richly layered figurative paintings rooted in intergenerational storytelling and cultural identity. Her work has earned national recognition, including the Bennett Prize and fellowships with institutions like Yale University.
Together, their work underscores the gala’s central theme: honoring legacy while investing in the future.
An immersive celebration of Black creativity
Held as a multi-sensory experience, the evening blended art, live performances, and storytelling — reflecting ADAMA’s broader mission to create immersive cultural spaces that center the Black experience through contemporary art.
Programming included artist presentations, performances, and a live auction supporting the museum’s capital campaign and future home.
Funds raised from the gala will help seed ADAMA’s long-term vision, including expanded exhibitions and community-focused programming that deepens connection across the African Diaspora.
Why it matters for Atlanta
As Atlanta continues positioning itself as a global cultural capital — especially in the lead-up to major international moments like the 2026 FIFA World Cup — spaces like ADAMA play an important role in telling the city’s story through art.
The museum’s focus on immersive experiences and global diaspora connections reflects Atlanta’s identity as both a cultural hub and a city shaped by creativity across generations.
By attending the gala, Mayor Dickens joined artists, cultural leaders, and supporters in recognizing how local creativity continues to shape Atlanta’s global influence.
Looking ahead
The joint exhibition featuring both honorees opened in conjunction with the gala and will remain on view through April 4, giving residents an opportunity to experience the work firsthand.
As ADAMA continues building toward its future home, events like Flowers & Seeds serve as both celebration and foundation — honoring the artists who define the present while planting seeds for what’s next.
