The African Diaspora Art Museum of Atlanta (ADAMA) is proud to announce Double Feature, a special art exhibition celebrating the Blaxploitation film era. On view from April 18 through June 14, 2025, and curated by Ric Ross, Double Feature showcases 30 original, framed vintage movie posters from the 1970s Blaxploitation era – including iconic titles such as Shaft, The Mack, Cleopatra Jones, and Blacula.

This vibrant exhibition explores both the artistic value of these boldly illustrated posters and the cultural impact of Blaxploitation cinema on Black identity and creative expression.

Exhibition Details:

• Title: Double Feature – Vintage Blaxploitation Poster Art

• Dates: April 18 – June 14, 2025

• Location: African Diaspora Art Museum of Atlanta (ADAMA), 352 University Ave SW, Atlanta, GA

• Curator: Ric Ross

• Featured Works: 30 original vintage film posters (circa 1970–1979) including Shaft, The Mack, Cleopatra Jones, Blacula, and more

Double Feature carries a double entendre in its name, highlighting a dual form of artistry: the visual art of the posters and the narrative art of the films themselves. In the spirit of a classic cinema “double feature,” the exhibition presents two intertwined stories – one told through striking imagery, the other through groundbreaking filmmaking. Visitors will encounter gallery walls lined with larger-than-life posters whose bold graphics, unforgettable taglines, and dynamic characters capture the essence of an era when Black heroes and heroines burst onto the big screen in unprecedented ways . Each poster is treated as a work of art in its own right, inviting viewers to appreciate the craft of illustration and design that went into marketing these films as much as the cultural narratives they represent.

At its core, Double Feature is an educational, celebratory, and inspirational journey through the history of Blaxploitation cinema and its artistic legacy. The Blaxploitation genre – roughly spanning 1970 to 1979 – provided a rare opportunity for Black men and women to be heroic, strong, cool, and victorious on screen after decades of marginalization in Hollywood . Films like Shaft and Cleopatra Jones introduced Black protagonists who defied stereotypes and claimed their place as pop culture icons. Major studios of the 1970s even relied on the success of these films and their charismatic stars to stay afloat . Double Feature illuminates this history by pairing the stunning original posters with context about the films’ storylines and impact. Through wall text and multimedia, visitors can learn how Blaxploitation movies tackled taboo subjects (from resistance to oppression to Black pride) and how they resonated with Black audiences hungry for representation. The exhibition’s educational elements shed light on the artistry of the poster designers and the ways in which these images both reflected and shaped Black identity in the 20th century .

ADAMA presents Double Feature as a bridge that expands conventional perceptions of art. By displaying vintage movie posters in a museum setting, ADAMA challenges the notion of art as abstract, inaccessible, or financially unattainable. Instead, the exhibition leverages nostalgia and cultural intimacy to help re-language the very concept of “art” for the African diaspora – celebrating creative expression in all its forms and affirming its importance in everyday life. Double Feature makes clear that art is not confined to paint on canvas or marble sculptures; it is also found in the pop culture ephemera that tell our stories. The vibrant colors and imagery of a movie poster, once seen tacked to theater lobbies or bedroom walls, are given due recognition as cultural artifacts and works of imagination.

ADAMA’s institutional voice comes through in this show’s mission: to embrace the art that lives in our communities and memories, and to elevate it to a platform where it can inspire dialogue and pride. “This exhibition is a love letter to Black creativity,” says Ric Ross, the curator of Double Feature. “From the filmmakers and artists who created these enduring images, to the fans who cherished them, we are celebrating how Black art can be both deeply personal and broadly influential. We hope visitors see that art truly belongs to them – it’s in our stories, our style, our everyday lives.