Honfleur Gallery Presents 

Resistance, Resilience, and Response: A Retrospective Exhibition

by Rik Freeman

On View: June 19 – August 1, 2026

Honfleur Gallery is proud to present Resistance, Resilience, and Response, a major retrospective exhibition by acclaimed Washington, DC artist Rik Freeman, on view June 19 through August 1, 2026, at Honfleur Gallery, 1241 Marion Barry Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20020.

The exhibition opens on Friday, June 19, 2026, with an Opening Reception from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM and an Artist Talk from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Coinciding with Juneteenth and running through the period surrounding Independence Day during the nation's 250th anniversary year, the exhibition serves as Freeman's artistic response to the current social and political climate while reflecting on more than three decades of work exploring Black history, culture, identity, and resilience.

Resistance, Resilience, and Response brings together selections from three of Freeman's most significant series: The Chittlin Circuit Review, which chronicles the history of Blues music and the culture that shaped it; BAHIA!, which explores the African influence on the history and culture of Bahia, Brazil; and Black Beaches During Segregation, which examines historically African American beach communities along the Atlantic coast.

Together, these works highlight stories of perseverance, cultural expression, and collective memory while demonstrating the enduring power of art as a tool for reflection and social commentary.

The exhibition will also feature the debut of a new painting, What's Going On, inspired by Marvin Gaye's groundbreaking 1971 album of the same name. The work draws connections between the social issues explored in Gaye's music and the challenges facing society today.

"All of the paintings in this exhibition address at least one of the themes in the title," says Freeman. "Resistance, resilience, and response have been central to the experiences of Black communities throughout history, and they remain essential today."