Oakland-based artist Mildred Howard is the subject of Mildred Howard: Poetics of Memory, the first comprehensive retrospective of her 50-year career, opening June 12, 2026, at the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA). The exhibition explores the life and work of the octogenarian artist, whose recent rise includes a 2025 Guggenheim Fellowship and honorary doctorates from the California College of the Arts and California State University, East Bay.
What defines the artistic evolution of Mildred Howard?
Howard’s work often blurs the lines between her personal history and her creative output. According to OMCA senior curator Carin Adams, the retrospective incorporates personal artifacts—including a child-size chair from Howard’s first art classes and private correspondence—to provide insight into the origins of her practice. The exhibition features pieces like the extra castings from her 2001 public installation Locks and Keys For Harry Bridges, which honors the union organizer.
Her home serves as a living extension of this work. For the past nine years, Howard has resided in a 15,000-square-foot West Oakland warehouse. The space functions as a residence, studio, and archive, where remnants of large-scale public art, such as blue glass samples from her 2003 work Three Shades of Blue, are integrated into her living environment.
How does Howard’s history inform her “Untold Histories” series?
Howard’s recent work, specifically the Untold Histories / Hidden Truths series (2025), confronts the legacies of colonial figures. She creates sculptures of historical figures such as Junipero Serra, William Gwin, and Francis Scott Key, wrapping the monuments in red material she identifies as “Make America Great Again red.”
These pieces are often stored in her warehouse alongside the tools of her daily life, such as paint cans and U-Haul boxes. This juxtaposition reflects her family’s background in activism. Her mother, Mable “Mama” Howard, was a noted organizer who led efforts to tunnel BART tracks underground in Berkeley to prevent the disenfranchisement of their Black neighborhood, a history that Howard cites as a foundational influence on her perspective.
Why is the “Poetics of Memory” retrospective significant now?
The retrospective at OMCA marks a period of heightened recognition for the artist. Despite a career spanning five decades, Howard’s receipt of a Guggenheim Fellowship in April 2025 followed 15 years of applications and rejections. Carin Adams notes that the museum’s effort to highlight Howard’s work is part of a broader institutional push to uplift voices that have been underappreciated in the art world.
The exhibition, which runs through October 18, 2026, captures what Adams describes as a “moment” for the artist. For Howard, the retrospective is a milestone she joked would usually require someone to be “almost dead” to achieve, though she remains actively engaged in her practice.
Did you know?
Mildred Howard’s family lived within a four-block radius in South Berkeley for over 50 years. Her grandson and art assistant, Lamar “MYL3Z” Brown, recalls the area as a hub for extended family gatherings until the displacement of long-term residents forced the family to relocate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I see the Mildred Howard retrospective?
The exhibition Mildred Howard: Poetics of Memory is on display at the Oakland Museum of California starting June 12, 2026.
What is the focus of Howard’s “Untold Histories” series?
The 2025 series features sculptures of colonizers and slaveholders wrapped in red fabric, intended to confront and reinterpret historical monuments.
How long does the exhibition run?
The retrospective at the Oakland Museum of California is scheduled to run through October 18, 2026.
Are you interested in learning more about the intersection of art and social history? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for updates on upcoming exhibitions and interviews with contemporary artists.
d, without any additional comments or text.
[/gpt3]
