The SFO Museum has launched a new exhibition celebrating the women of Afrofuturism. This movement is known for examining the past, questioning the present, and reimagining futures for Black people through various artistic expressions such as literature, music, fashion, film, and visual arts.
Visionary Black women have long been at the forefront of this movement. Notable figures include Katherine Johnson and other Black female “computers” who made significant contributions to NASA in the 1960s. Author Octavia Butler also played a crucial role by becoming the first nationally recognized African American woman science fiction writer with her novel “Patternmaster” in 1976. The exhibition also acknowledges jazz musician Alice Coltrane’s exploration of universal consciousness in the 1970s.
Featured artworks include those by Oakland-based filmmaker Celia C. Peters, Boston-based digital artist Nettrice Gaskins, and interdisciplinary artist Alisha B. Wormsley, creator of the “THERE ARE BLACK PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE” billboards. Additionally, futuristic fashion designs by San Francisco native Afatasi the Artist and professor D. Denenge Duyst-Akpem are on display.
The exhibition is curated with assistance from Ingrid LaFleur and can be viewed post-security in Harvey Milk Terminal 1 at San Francisco International Airport from May 11, 2025, to September 27, 2026. It is accessible to ticketed passengers or through prior arrangement via email.
The SFO Museum was established in 1980 by the San Francisco Airport Commission with a mission to engage and inspire a global audience while preserving and sharing commercial aviation history. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums since 1999, it operates over twenty-five sites within airport terminals including galleries that host rotating exhibitions across various disciplines.
