Events › Readers Are Leaders: Portraits by Adéniké Amin

Readers Are Leaders: Portraits by Adéniké Amin

Adéniké Amin’s Readers Are Leaders is a visual anthem to the power and legacy of Oakland’s Black community leaders. Born and raised in Oakland, Amin returns to her photographic practice after an 11-year hiatus, capturing the essence of the city’s seasoned and emerging cultural vanguards.

Each portrait in Readers Are Leaders is a declaration of reverence, a moment where the leaders who have long carried the weight of community are given space to be seen in all their complexity. With a style that is both theatrical and honest, Amin weaves the vibrancy of her subjects’ individuality with the integrity of their collective mission: to move Black Oakland forward, one act of service at a time.

This series celebrates the unyielding spirit of leaders who, while working across diverse sectors, remain unified in their commitment to the community-first essence of Oakland. Through her lens, Amin illuminates the faces of these trailblazers.

Readers are Leaders invites viewers to reflect on the symbiotic relationship between the individual and the collective, showing how personal dedication ripples outward to uplift an entire community. It’s a love letter to the heart of Oakland, written in images that speak volumes.

Whether you’re a native to the city or visiting it for the first time, this exhibition reminds us of the profound impact of leadership grounded in integrity and action—and the artistry in making that impact visible.

Join us at the Lakeview branch for the opening reception and artist talk on February 8 from 1pm-3pm. The show be up through April 4.

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