Demetri Broxton: Ancestral Echoes | Museum of the African Diaspora | June 12–Aug. 16, 2026

Demetri Broxton: Ancestral Echoes

June 12–August 16, 2026
Solo Exhibition
Curated by Key Jo Lee
Image: Demetri Broxton. Mojo Hand, 2021. MoAD, San Francisco.

Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD)
685 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA  94103
+1-415-358-7200
MoAD Website
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Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) Hours

Overview

Today’s Love Letter to Art is Demetri Broxton: Ancestral Echoes at MoAD, curated by Key Jo Lee. Inspired by his Louisiana Creole and Filipino heritage, Broxton’s first solo museum exhibition is a deeply personal tribute to family, ancestral memory, and cultural identity.

Across his work, Broxton draws from Yoruba beading traditions, the craftsmanship of the New Orleans Mardi Gras Indians, and Hoodoo practices. Through painstaking hand and machine embroidery, beadwork, sequins, mirrors, nails, cowrie shells, and other symbolic materials, he reimagines archival photographs, textiles, and sculpture as layered works of honor and remembrance. By removing their original photographic backgrounds, he frees his subjects from their historical circumstances, placing them within new visual and spiritual narratives. Ancestral Echoes brings these ideas to life through textiles, sculpture, and video.

Preview of Demetri Broxton: Ancestral Echoes. MoAD, San Francisco.

Shown here:
1) Demetri Broxton: Ancestral Echoes is the artist’s first solo museum exhibition at MoAD, curated by Key Jo Lee.
2) Inspired by his Louisiana Creole and Filipino heritage, Broxton honors family history through textiles, sculpture, and video.
3) His layered works combine Yoruba beading traditions, New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian craftsmanship, and Hoodoo practices with embroidery, beads, sequins, mirrors, cowrie shells, and other symbolic materials.
4) By removing the backgrounds from archival photographs, Broxton frees his subjects from their historical circumstances, placing them within new visual and spiritual narratives.
5) Embellished boxing gloves recur throughout the exhibition as symbols of resilience, protection, and cultural continuity.
6) You Won’t Break My Soul is a fantastic, mystical figure holding court over the gallery.
7) What is Buried Still Feeds the Tree invites visitors to leave a handwritten note in memory of a loved one, creating a living memorial.

I’m familiar with Demetri’s textile work, but I was completely blown away by his sculptures, which were totally new to me. The embellished boxing gloves—a recurring motif throughout the exhibition—are symbols of resilience, protection, and cultural continuity. The centerpiece of the exhibition, You Won’t Break My Soul, is an intense presence in the gallery—a fantastic, mystical figure that ties these themes together.

The altarpiece What is Buried Still Feeds the Tree is created from materials with ancestral significance—including tobacco plants, acacia bowls, Carolina Gold rice, sugar, and cotton. Visitors are invited to leave a handwritten note in memory of a loved one, creating a living memorial.

I remember Demetri from his earlier years at MoAD. The Bay Area arts community is quite small, so there are many recognizable faces as they move between institutions. Since 2025, he has served as Executive Director of Root Division—one of my favorite arts organizations in San Francisco—but I didn’t realize he was also an artist until a few years ago.

As someone who studied and worked in fashion design, I’ve always been fascinated by Demetri’s process. His use of hand and machine embroidery, sequins, and beadwork requires extraordinary patience and skill. I’ve seen clips of his process on the Gram, and I know from experience that work like this takes many hours of extreme focus—a labor of love that mirrors the care and grace with which he honors the people and histories that inspire him.

As I move further into middle age—a stage of life I’m trying to embrace with a smile on my face—I find myself wanting to know more about my own family history and the stories that shaped it. Demetri’s homage to his family and heritage is such a beautiful tribute, and I love that. Don’t miss this stunning and powerful show.

🗓 Demetri Broxton: Ancestral Echoes is on view until August 16, 2026 at MoAD in San Francisco’s Yerba Buena arts district. It runs alongside UNBOUND: Art, Blackness & the Universe, which closes October 16, 2026.

💌 Did you see the show(s) or try any of our recommendations? What did you think? Let us know in the comments (in the Reviews section located on the second tab at the top of the page).

Currently on View at MoAD

Coming Soon to MoAD

QUICK GUIDE: MoAD

• Demetri Broxton: Ancestral Echoes (MoAD Emerging Artist Series) is the artist’s first solo museum exhibition, examining ancestral memory, cultural identity, and themes of labor, resilience, and remembrance through multimedia works inspired by his Louisiana Creole and Filipino heritage. | June 12–Aug. 16, 2026
• UNBOUND: Art, Blackness & the Universe presents Blackness as infinite and cosmically expansive, featuring global artists including Lorna Simpson and Rashaad Newsome across painting, sculpture, installation, and video. | Runs Oct. 1, 2025–Oct. 16, 2026.

⭐ MoAD UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS:

• Dorian Reid: Calling All Cats (MoAD Emerging Artist Series) is a multidisciplinary exhibition of ceramics, paintings, prints, textiles, and installations that celebrates Black history, community, civil rights, and animal welfare through the artist’s whimsical world of cats. | Sept. 30–Dec. 6, 2026

• *Dewey Crumpler: Sonic Lineages is the first major museum exhibition spanning more than five decades of the Bay Area artist’s career, bringing together paintings and newly commissioned kinetic works that explore Black consciousness, memory, spirituality, time, and African cosmologies. | Sept. 30–May 30, 2027.

• Tahirah Rasheed: The Light We Carry Forward (MoAD Emerging Artist Series) explores Black womanhood through glass, print, and photography, examining survival, care, healing, and resistance in the face of medical and institutional harm. | Dec. 16, 2026–March 7, 2027

⭐ MUSEUM HOURS: Open Tues–Wed 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; *Open Late on Thurs 12:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.; Fri–Sun 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
⭐ ADMISSION:

• General Admission Tickets Adults 15-64 $15
• Seniors 65+, Students, Educators $7
• Ages 5–12 FREE
• Membership starts at $55

⭐ DISCOUNTS: General Admission is FREE through the following programs:

• THRIVE @ MoAD FREE SECOND SATURDAYS
• Discover and Go (Free with Library Card–may not apply to all counties)
• Museums for All (Up to 4 FREE tickets with EBT card/ID for SNAP recipients. Tickets available at the museum’s welcome desk.)
• FREE Admission to U.S. Active Duty Military Personnel 

⭐ MoAD EVENTS:

•  Diaspora Dinner: Sips & Soul (A Night of Food, Wine & Storytelling Across the African Diaspora) on Aug. 15, 2026 from 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.

⭐ MoAD NEARBY ART: 

• MUSEUM: SFMOMA ON VIEW: Matisse’s Femme au chapeau: A Modern Scandal traces the story of one of the museum’s most iconic works and its influence on artists and audiences since its controversial 1905 debut. Runs May 16, 2026–Sept. 13, 2026. Graciela Iturbide: Between Two Worlds is a retrospective spanning more than five decades of the celebrated photographer’s poetic black-and-white images of everyday life, culture, and tradition in Mexico and beyond. Runs July 11–Nov. 29, 2026 | 2-min walk
• MUSEUM: YBCA ON VIEW: Diedrick Brackens: gather tender night is the Bay Area solo debut of Diedrick Brackens, presenting luminous handwoven tapestries that explore tenderness, migration, and queer connection to the natural world through richly dyed cotton and acrylic fiber. Runs March 13–Aug. 23, 2026. ON VIEW: Conjuring Power: Roots & Futures of Queer & Trans Movements is a multimedia exhibition celebrating the resilience, creativity, and resistance of Bay Area queer and trans communities through murals, rare archival photography, and contemporary video—featuring artists including Ester Hernández and materials from the GLBT Historical Society. Runs March 13–Aug. 23, 2026 | 2-min walk
• PUBLIC ART: Revelation, the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial fountain and several others at Yerba Buena Gardens (see LINK for additional works at Yerba Buena Gardens) | 2-min walk
• GALLERY: Berggruen Gallery ON VIEW: Summer Highlights | Runs July 9–Aug. 27, 2026. UPCOMING: Defining the Century: Modern Visionaries from Picasso to Calder | Runs Sept. 10–Oct. 22, 2026. UPCOMING: Liam Everett: the passenger | Runs Sept. 10–Oct. 29, 2026. | 6-min walk
• GALLERY: *Root Division ON VIEW: Introductions 2026 is Root Division’s annual juried exhibition featuring work by kaory santillán bueno, Robert Canali, Vincent Chong, Éamon McGivern, Camila Michaliszyn, Khadijah Morley, Morgann Nieto, evan pettiglio, Alieh Rezaei, Manuel Rodriguez, Jasmine Narkita Wiley, and Seongmin Yoo. Curated by PJ Policarpio, this year’s exhibition was juried by Diedrick Brackens (artist and educator—don’t miss his phenomenal solo exhibition gather tender night, on view at YBCA through Aug. 23, 2026), Candace Huey (re.riddle and Edge on the Square), and Harriet Salmon (Creativity Explored, also featued in Creativity Explored at YBCA through Nov. 25, 2026). Runs Aug. 5–Sept. 19, 2026. *Opening Reception on Sept. 12, 2026 from 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. | UPCOMING EVENTS: *Root Division’s Annual Benefit & Art Auction on Oct. 22, 2026 from 6:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. | 18-min walk • 4-min drive

⭐ MoAD NEARBY DINING

• Tropisueño | Taqueria by day and a full-service restaurant and bar by night with a warm, relaxed vibe. | 4-min walk
• Delarosa | Pizza and pasta. BOOK DELAROSA ON OPEN TABLE HERE| 4-min walk
• Amber India | Upscale Indian food w/ *Mon–Fri LUNCH SPECIALS starting at $18 & $32 Lunch Buffet! BOOK AMBER INDIA ON OPEN TABLE HERE | 4-min walk
• Metreon Food Hall | Budget-friendly assortment of food vendors i.e. burgers, salads, poke bowls, wraps, ramen. | 4-min walk
• The Harlequin | Cocktail bar w/Brooklyn vibes serving lunch (Thurs., Sat., Sun.) and dinner. *Check out their FABULOUS HAPPY HOUR 4:00–6:00 p.m. daily featuring $2 oysters and $11 cocktails. BOOK THE HARLEQUIN ON OPEN TABLE HERE | 6-min walk

A LOVE LETTER TO ART’S CASUAL DINING PICKS

• Oren’s Hummus | Delicious Israeli food in a casual friendly setting. *Check out their AMAZING HAPPY HOUR Mon–Thurs 3:00–5:00 p.m. | 2-min walk
• Ippudo | Cozy, modern ramen restaurant with a full bar. *Check out their DAILY HAPPY HOUR from 3:00–6:00 p.m. | 5-min walk
• Fang | Cantonese cuisine from the Fang family of House of Nanking. As seen on Chef Dynasty: House of Fang (oh, I like that Peter Fang!), chefs Kathy and Peter Fang blend tradition with charm. BOOK FANG ON OPEN TABLE HERE | 6-min walk 

💖 A LOVE LETTER TO ART’S ROMANTIC DINING PICKS

• The Pied Piper | Old world bar + food + Maxfield Parrish’s Pied Piper painting in SF’s historic Palace Hotel. BOOK THE PIED PIPER ON OPEN TABLE HERE | 4-min walk
• The Cavalier | I love the English hunting lodge meets chic gastropub vibes, thanks to the vision of designer extraordinaire Ken Fulk. *CHECK OUT THEIR FANTASTIC HAPPY HOURS: Mon–Sat 4:00–6:00 p.m.; Fri & Sat 9:00–10:00 p.m. Includes $10 Cocktails & Apps under $20! The MARLOWE BURGER is a SF classic. BOOK THE CAVALIER ON OPEN TABLE HERE | 9-min walk

A LOVE LETTER TO ART RECOMMENDS

 More nearby suggestions are always welcome. Feel free to add in the comments!

MoAD NEARBY ART

Matisse’s Femme au chapeau: A Modern Scandal | May 16, 2026–Sept. 13, 2026

Matisse’s Femme au chapeau: A Modern Scandal traces the story of one of the museum’s most iconic works and its influence on artists and audiences since its controversial 1905 debut

Graciela Iturbide: Between Two Worlds | Opens July 11, 2026

is a retrospective spanning more than five decades of the celebrated photographer's poetic black-and-white images of everyday life, culture, and tradition in Mexico and beyond.

YBCA | Diedrick Brackens: gather tender night | March 13–Aug. 23, 2026 | 701 Mission Street San Francisco, CA 94103

Diedrick Brackens: gather tender night is the Bay Area solo debut of Diedrick Brackens, presenting luminous handwoven tapestries that explore tenderness, migration, and queer connection to the natural world through richly dyed cotton and acrylic fiber.

YBCA | Conjuring Power: Roots & Futures of Queer & Trans Movements | March 13–Aug. 23, 2026 | 701 Mission Street San Francisco, CA 94103

A multimedia exhibition exploring the resilient beauty, cultural richness, and fierce resistance of Bay Area queer and trans communities.

Public Art | Visit Yerba Buena | 750 Howard Street San Francisco, CA 94103

The variety of dazzling public art in Yerba Buena Gardens by noted artists from around the globe will surprise, delight, and intrigue. A glass ship rises from the earth, a bronze statue greets visitors, and a robotic sculpture comes to life with your help. Tributes to Martin Luther King,…

Berggruen Gallery | 10 Hawthorne St, San Francisco, CA 94105

Berggruen Gallery specializes in the exhibition and sale of 20th-century American and European paintings, drawings, sculpture, and limited edition prints.

Root Division | Introductions 2026 | Aug. 5–Sept. 19, 2026 | 1131 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

Launched in 2007, Introductions is one of Root Division’s signature exhibitions, celebrating the work of twelve outstanding Bay Area artists who are not yet represented by commercial galleries. Selected through a highly competitive review process, these artists exemplify exceptional creativity and conceptual vision. Offering an exciting glimpse into the Bay Area’s dynamic contemporary art scene, Introductions features bold new work across sculpture, photography, textiles, painting, and interdisciplinary practices. The exhibition highlights the breadth of talent shaping the region’s cultural landscape while introducing audiences to artists at pivotal moments in their careers. A cornerstone of Root Division’s exhibition program, Introductions provides artists with a powerful platform to expand their visibility through a professionally curated exhibition, engaging public programs, and a fully illustrated publication. By connecting emerging artists with collectors, curators, and the broader arts community, Introductions helps launch the next generation of Bay Area artistic voices.

SFMOMA NEARBY DINING

Tropisueño Mexican Kitchen | Taqueria By Day, Full-Service Bar & Restaurant By Night! | 75 Yerba Buena Lane, San Francisco, CA 94103

Inspired by a tropical dream of the Jaliscan coastline and the complex cuisines from the very diverse regions throughout Mexico. We proudly offer a quick-service Taqueria by day and a charming, full-service Restaurant by night. Our Bar is open from start to finish, so enjoy our excellent handcrafted cocktails everytime you visit!

Delarosa | All-Day, Roman-Style Pizzerias in California | 37 Yerba Buena Lane, San Francisco, CA 94103

Delarosa is an all-day gathering place serving rustic Italian dishes, eclectic beers & craft cocktails in SF’s Marina, a second location in SF’s FiDi, and now open in Bishop Ranch, San Ramon, CA. Beloved for its Roman-style pizza, small plates, craft beer, Italian and Californian wines, and delicious craft cocktails, Delarosa and its interpretation of the classic and unpretentious beer and pizza pairing has made a mark on many locals’ and visitors’ must-visit lists.

Amber India | 25 Yerba Buena Lane, San Francisco, CA 94103 | Book on OpenTable

Amber India - San Francisco, Fine Dining Indian cuisine. Read reviews and book now. *Check out their Mon–Fri LUNCH SPECIALS starting at $18 & $32 Lunch Buffet!

Dining at Metreon | *Metreon has many great casual dining options. | 135 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Visit Metreon, a four-story vertical shopping and entertainment center, located in the heart of downtown San Francisco, CA. Shop with us today!

The Harlequin | Cocktail Bar, Restaurant, Lounge and Event Space | 68 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

WELCOME TO THE HARLEQUIN: A Decadent Era of Cocktails and Dining in Downtown San Francisco. Party like it's 1923 while enjoying expertly crafted cocktails paired with New American cuisine. Our spaces are great for happy hours, group celebrations, date nights, private dining, and corporate events. Located steps from Moscone Center in the Yerba Buena neighborhood. *Check out their FABULOUS HAPPY HOUR 4:00–6:00 p.m. daily featuring $2 oysters and $11 cocktails

*A LOVE LETTER TO ART'S CASUAL PICK | IPPUDO Yerba Buena | 18 Yerba Buena Ln, San Francisco, CA 94103

Discover the best tonkotsu ramen in San Francisco at Ippudo Yerba Buena – where deep, creamy pork broth and perfectly balanced noodles come together for an unforgettable bowl. Located in the heart of Yerba Buena, we proudly serve authentic Hakata-style ramen that’s rich in flavor and tradition. Explore our menu, check our hours, and reserve your table today for a true taste of Japan’s finest ramen. *Check out their DAILY HAPPY HOUR from 3:00–6:00 p.m.

*A LOVE LETTER TO ART'S CASUAL PICK | Oren’s Hummus | **Check out their AMAZING HAPPY HOUR Mon–Thurs 3 p.m.–5 p.m. | 71 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Our pita and hummus are prepared fresh numerous times throughout the day. We serve Angus beef, all natural chicken and 100% organic eggs, and we source most of our produce from local family farms.

*A LOVE LETTER TO ART'S CASUAL PICK | Fang | 660 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94105

Trendy spot offering modern twists on Chinese staples in an upscale, Asian-influenced setting. The Fang family has been at the forefront of Chinese cuisine in San Francisco since opening their first restaurant, House of Nanking, on Kearny Street in 1988. Not only is our food different from other Chinese restaurants but our approach to Chinese food is also different. Oftentimes, customers will come back and ask for something they had a few months ago and by then we’ll have some other seasonal dish which they will then try. This creates ongoing opportunities for diners to experience our cuisine in a new and inspired way each time.

*A LOVE LETTER TO ART'S ROMANTIC PICK | The Pied Piper Bar and Lounge a the Palace Hotel | 2 New Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94105

Steeped in rich history, the Pied Piper Bar at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco stands as a true testament to timeless elegance. Since its inception in 1909, this iconic establishment has welcomed generations of patrons, each experiencing its unique charm and allure. Named after the famous Maxfield Parrish mural that graces its walls, the Pied Piper Bar has witnessed countless moments of camaraderie, celebration, and connection. From its earliest days as a gathering place for locals and travelers alike, to its role as a backdrop for historical meetings, the bar's history is interwoven with the fabric of San Francisco's vibrant past.

*A LOVE LETTER TO ART'S ROMANTIC PICK | The Cavalier | 360 Jessie St, San Francisco, CA 94103

The Cavalier is a London-inspired brasserie, located adjacent to Hotel Zetta in San Francisco’s SoMA neighborhood. The upscale British influenced restaurant is brought to you by Executive Chef Jennifer Puccio and award-winning San Francisco designer, Ken Fulk. *CHECK OUT THEIR FANTASTIC HAPPY HOURS: Mon–Sat 4:00–6:00 p.m.; Fri & Sat 9:00–10:00 p.m. Includes $10 Cocktails & Apps under $20!

RELATED EXHIBITIONS

Introductions 2025 | Root Division (San Francisco) | Aug. 13–Sept. 20, 2025 | A LOVE LETTER TO ART

Preview of Root Division's 2025 Introductions show featuring 12 emerging artists from the Bay Area.

Root Division's 2024 Art Auction | Root Division (San Francisco) | Oct 24, 2024 | A LOVE LETTER TO ART

Join Root Division for its Art Auction fundraiser on Oct 24, 2024, featuring works by 190+ museum-exhibiting and emerging artists.

The New Black Vanguard: Photography between Art and Fashion | MoAD | Closes March 5, 2023 | A LOVE LETTER TO ART

See the FIRST AND ONLY WEST COAST installation of The New Black Vanguard: Photography between Art and Fashion featuring the work of 15 contemporary photographers before it closes on March 5, 2023.

Author: ALoveLettertoArt