ART enthusiasts showed up in droves for the opening reception of Concept NV’s Black Eye exhibition curated by Nicola Vassell on Friday, May 2, in New York.

The thought-provoking Black Eye, which Vassell worked on for two years and took hold around the time of the second Obama inauguration, focuses on the 21st- century black identity experience. It speaks to both the wounds left by racism and the freedoms afforded by seeing from the perspective of black experience — through the imagination and craft of some of the world’s most renowned black artists.

“A black eye,” explained Vassell, “is our true tool — it’s the thing a lot of us rely heavily on for this art world to even exist.”

The wide-ranging exhibition features paintings, photographs and collages by 26 emerging and established black artists, including Wangechi Mutu, Jacolby Satterwhite, Steve McQueen and Kerry James Marshall.

The Black Eye exhibition continues until May 24th at 57 Walker Street, New York.