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New art installation “Smile, Bro.” opens June 5 in downtown Fayetteville

By Staff Report, posted Jun 4, 2026 on BizFayetteville.com

On Friday, June 5, 2026, Smile, Bro., a new group exhibition curated by Al Bowman in partnership with Black Artist Forward, will open at Region Six Project in downtown Fayetteville. The evening will begin with a private preview tour at 6:00 p.m. for participating artists, Black Artist Forward members and invited guests, before opening free to the public at 7:00 p.m.. The exhibition will remain on view through July 5, 2026.

Bringing together more than 30 artists and over 40 works from across the country, Smile, Bro. explores the emotional landscapes of Black masculinity through themes of joy, vulnerability, softness, healing, identity and community care. Through painting, photography, mixed media and contemporary visual storytelling, the exhibition creates space for reflection and honest dialogue around mental well-being and emotional expression among Black men.

Featured artists include JaLisa McCullough, Samod Wilson, Zairis TéJion Miles, and Mar-Keith De’Quan, alongside a national roster of emerging and established creatives whose work challenges limiting narratives surrounding Black identity and masculinity.

Rather than presenting Black men solely through struggle or survival, Smile, Bro. intentionally makes room for tenderness, celebration, rest, intimacy, humor and emotional honesty. The exhibition invites viewers into a shared conversation about what it means to be seen fully, beyond expectation or stereotype.

“Smile, Bro. is about creating space for joy, for honesty, and for the full spectrum of emotion that Black men carry every day,” said curator Al Bowman in a press release. “It’s about reminding people that there is strength in feeling, and that community plays a vital role in healing.”

A portion of artwork sales from the exhibition will support Black Artist Forward and its ongoing mission to provide opportunities, resources and visibility for Black artists throughout the region and beyond.

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