Opening Reception: April 16, 2025 | 6:00pm - 8:30pm 

On View: 4/16/25 - 5/25/25 

Location: TASWIRA Gallery, 120 1st Ave S,Seattle, WA 98144 

TASWIRA Gallery is proud to represent a solo exhibition of photographs by Robert Wade and curated by gallerist Avery Barnes. Robert Wade is a well-known Seattle-based photographer, constantly seen around town photographing events, activities and 

performances. 

1969 and Beyond offers a poignant look back at a world in transformation. The photographs in the exhibition address an era of seismic shifts and social upheaval, transporting us from an intimate encounter with a Black Panther Party leader in Copenhagen to the vibrant energy of the Pan African Cultural Festival in Algiers, where the echoes of revolution resonated among Algerians as a result of the successful Algerian movement that ended French colonialism in that country. Robert Wade’s photographs from 1969 and the decade that followed, made in West Africa, North Africa, Europe and the United States, provide insights into this exciting time period.

This exhibition marks the gallery’s first photography exhibition, highlighting compelling images of beauty and historical significance from around the world, while connecting both African American movements and the African continent. It also reflects how TASWIRA Founder, Avery Barnes, and Mr. Wade formed a unique bond in mentorship through the arts.

Mr. Wade's editorial and commercial photographs have been widely published in magazines and newspapers including Art Forum, Art in America, the Seattle Times, SF Gate and GQ. His event photography clients include numerous for-profit and nonprofit organizations. In addition to working as a commercial photographer, his fine art practice has been featured in both group shows and solo-exhibitions in Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Brazil, and Spain, since the 1970s. 

He is also an active participant in and supporter of the Seattle art community, formerly serving as president of the Contemporary Art Council at the Seattle Art Museum, on the boards of Center on Contemporary Art, and the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra and currently a long-time Trustee at the Henry Art Gallery. 

"This exhibition captures a selection of Robert’s images beginning when he was 24-years old.. Curating this show in particular has been a transformative force in my life, helping me connect Afro-American and African stories through my lens and deepening my understanding of Robert's impactful work. Going through Robert's archives has been an immense honor. Robert has been more than a mentor to me; he's been like an Art Dad, guiding me through challenges and sharing his wisdom, from his art collection to life advice." - Avery Barnes, Curatorial Notes