The Fierce Urgency of Now
Role: Curator; Exhibition Creative Direction
Year: 2025
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Partners: IMAN Central; Chicago artists and cultural partners
Medium: Multidisciplinary exhibition including photography, painting, installation, and archival materials
Curated by Janell Nelson in 2026 at IMAN — the Inner-City Muslim Action Network — in Chicago, The Fierce Urgency of Now: Artistic Reflections on the Chicago Freedom Movement was presented at IMANifest Arts Studios Gallery in partnership with IMAN Arts & Culture and the Terra Foundation for American Art. The exhibition marked the 60th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1966 Chicago Freedom Movement marches, inviting contemporary artists to reflect on the enduring relevance of King’s organizing in Chicago and the unfinished work of racial and housing justice.
The exhibition brought together works by Max Sansing, Darius Dennis, Sonja Henderson, Shirien Damra, Tubs, Illa, Sadie Woods, and Kayla Mahaffey, alongside historical context provided through archival materials and panel contributions by Katanya E. Raby. Drawing from Bernard Kleina’s photographs documenting the Chicago Freedom Movement, the exhibition paired archival imagery with contemporary artistic responses spanning painting, installation, mural practice, and mixed media—bridging past and present through visual storytelling.
Nelson conceived the exhibition’s curatorial framework and led its artist selection, advocacy, and project direction, identifying a cohort of artists whose practices could meaningfully engage the historical material while speaking to present-day civic realities. She also developed and designed the project’s strategic pitch deck for IMAN and funding partners, shaping the narrative, visual identity, and institutional framing of the exhibition from concept through realization.