Washington, D.C. – Bay Atlantic University (BAU) recently transformed its campus into a vibrant cultural hub, successfully hosting the unique pop-up exhibition, “The Eternal Africa: Colors and Shadows,” from November 18th to November 20th. This captivating event, held in collaboration with the GPI Africa Program, served as a powerful testament to BAU’s deep commitment to cultural learning, community engagement, and global understanding.
An Unforgettable Expedition Through Art and Insight
The three-day exhibition offered students and the entire D.C. community a spectacular journey into the heart of Africa through the visionary works of renowned Sudanese artist and academic, Mubarak Abbas.
For over fifty years, Abbas has been celebrated for founding a distinctive school of black-and-white painting. The exhibition showcased his extraordinary body of work, marked by a striking contrast: monochrome complemented by vibrant colors. This powerful dialogue between color and shadow mirrors the essence of Africa itself – a conversation between memory and renewal, history and imagination.
Guests immersed themselves in the continent’s people, enchanting landscapes, tribes, rituals, and cultural memory, all set to the authentic, enhancing rhythm and harmony of unique African music.
The Apex of Artistry: A Special Evening with the Master
The cultural celebration reached a crescendo on November 20th with a special “Meet the Artist” session. The evening, held from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM, provided a unique opportunity to engage directly with Mubarak Abbas.
The session began with a beautiful live musical performance by Nadir Mubarak Abbas, setting a reflective and engaging stage. Guests enjoyed complimentary refreshments before diving into a deep conversation with the master himself.
During his presentation, Abbas shared profound insights into the history of his work, the unique places that inspire him, and most compellingly, how experiences of war and struggle have shaped his distinctive artistic style. The event successfully moved “beyond the classroom,” fulfilling BAU’s broader mission to bring world-class art and global dialogue right to the D.C. campus.
Honoring a Legacy of Resilience and Innovation
Mubarak Abbas’s prolific career has elevated Sudanese and African art onto the global stage. He is celebrated for his technical brilliance, creative versatility, and for creating timeless visual narratives of resilience and belonging.
His influence extends beyond the canvas; as an academic, his school of black-and-white expression continues to shape generations of artists. His contributions to art and peace were recently recognized when he was honored with the “Peacemaker in Our Midst Award” by the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg in September 2025.
The success of “The Eternal Africa: Colors and Shadows” reinforces BAU’s role as a vital intersection of education and culture, promising more engaging global experiences for its community in the future.
