Awol Erizku: X – A Contemporary Reframing of Malcolm X’s Legacy at CAAM

 

The Interdisciplinary Power of “Afro-Esotericism”

 

The California African American Museum (CAAM) presents Awol Erizku: X, a striking new exhibition that reimagines the legacy of Malcolm X through a bold and contemporary lens. On view through September 7, 2025, and organized in partnership with the SCAD Museum of Art, the exhibition reflects Erizku’s ongoing exploration of Black identity, spiritual symbolism, and the cultural continuum between Africa and the United States.

Rather than offering a linear or didactic narrative, Awol Erizku: X constructs a layered, poetic meditation on transformation, resistance, and faith. Through a multidisciplinary approach that includes photography, sculpture, film, music, and archival materials, Erizku creates a symbolic visual language he terms “Afro-esotericism.” This aesthetic blends African mythology, contemporary Black culture, and esoteric spiritual themes to produce a nuanced portrait of Malcolm X—not simply as a historical icon, but as a living, evolving symbol of cultural resilience.

Among the standout works in the exhibition is Erizku’s mesmerizing black Nefertiti disco ball, a provocative sculpture that merges ancient iconography with modern nightlife aesthetics. This piece, like many others in the exhibition, challenges traditional representations of Black history in art, inviting viewers to reconsider how cultural legacies are constructed and remembered.

Curated by Daniel S. Palmer (SCAD Museum of Art) and Cameron Shaw (CAAM), Awol Erizku: X positions Malcolm X as an enduring figure whose influence continues to inspire artistic innovation and social reflection. At once reverent and radical, the exhibition offers a compelling vision of what it means to inherit, question, and transform Black cultural identity in the 21st century.

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