Baltimore Black Art : January Highlights

January in Baltimore opens with intention. As the city transitions from holiday spectacle to reflection and renewal, Black artists, musicians, comedians, and cultural institutions continue to set the tone for the year ahead. From symphonic soul and jazz tributes to landmark museum exhibitions and comedy stages filled with familiar voices, January offers a steady, meaningful continuation of Baltimore’s Black arts tradition.

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Visual Art: Amy Sherald’s Ongoing Baltimore Moment

Baltimore Museum of Art

The Baltimore Museum of Art continues its major exhibition Amy Sherald: American Sublime throughout January. The nationally acclaimed, Baltimore-based painter presents portraits that reframe Black American life with dignity, restraint, and quiet power. The exhibition remains one of the most significant visual arts offerings in the region and a cornerstone of the city’s cultural calendar as the new year begins.

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Music: Soul, Symphony & American Sound

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

📍 Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra brings Black musical traditions to the concert hall with two January programs that blend classical form with soul and American roots.

• American Soundscapes: Jazz, Blues & Beyond
  January 10 (8 PM) & January 11 (3 PM)
  A program exploring American music shaped by jazz, blues, and Black cultural influence.
• Kings of Soul (BSO Pops)
  January 17 (8 PM) & January 18 (3 PM)
  A symphonic celebration of soul music classics that defined generations.

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Community & Cultural Observance

Morgan State University

📍 Murphy Fine Arts Center

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration & Concert
  January 19, 2026
  Morgan State University’s annual MLK Day celebration features the world-renowned Morgan State University Choir, spoken word, and reflections honoring Dr. King’s legacy. The event remains one of Baltimore’s most enduring Black cultural observances.

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Jazz, R&B & Live Music at Keystone Korner

Keystone Korner Baltimore

Keystone Korner Baltimore continues its role as the city’s premier jazz club with a January lineup rooted in Black musical excellence, legacy, and innovation:

• Mike LeDonne Quartet — Jan. 2–4
• Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra — Jan. 9–10
• Sean Jones & Tim Green Sextet — Jan. 11
• Lafayette Gilchrist & New Volcanos — Jan. 15
• Raydio — Jan. 17
• Ebban & Ephraim Dorsey: MLK Tribute Performance — Jan. 18
• Just Fine: A Mary J. Blige Tribute — Jan. 23
• Glenn Jones — Jan. 24
• Mike Stern All-Stars — Jan. 30–31

From jazz legends to soul pioneers, Keystone Korner’s January calendar reflects the depth and continuity of Black music in Baltimore.

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Comedy: Starting the Year with Laughter

Baltimore Comedy Factory

The Baltimore Comedy Factory opens the year with a strong slate of nationally recognized Black comedians and cultural storytellers:

• Lavar Walker — Jan. 2–4
• Rodney Perry — Jan. 9–11
• The Beauty in Black Experience (Hosted by Ricco Ross) — Jan. 18 (Daytime Event)

These performances blend sharp observational humor, cultural commentary, and storytelling rooted in Black life and experience.

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A City Moving Forward Through Art

January’s arts calendar reflects Baltimore in transition—grounded in legacy, open to reflection, and propelled by Black artists who continue to shape the city’s cultural identity. Whether through a museum gallery, concert hall, jazz club, or comedy stage, Baltimore’s Black arts community opens the year with purpose and presence.

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Event Listings

Visual Art

• Amy Sherald: American Sublime — Baltimore Museum of Art | All month

Music — Classical / Soul

• American Soundscapes: Jazz, Blues & Beyond — Meyerhoff | Jan. 10–11
• Kings of Soul (BSO Pops) — Meyerhoff | Jan. 17–18

Music — Jazz / R&B / Soul (Keystone Korner)

• Mike LeDonne Quartet — Jan. 2–4
• Delfeayo Marsalis & Uptown Jazz Orchestra — Jan. 9–10
• Sean Jones & Tim Green Sextet — Jan. 11
• Lafayette Gilchrist & New Volcanos — Jan. 15
• Raydio — Jan. 17
• Ebban & Ephraim Dorsey MLK Tribute — Jan. 18
• Just Fine: Mary J. Blige Tribute — Jan. 23
• Glenn Jones — Jan. 24
• Mike Stern All-Stars — Jan. 30–31

Community & Cultural

• Morgan State University MLK Day Celebration & Concert — Murphy Fine Arts | Jan. 19

Comedy — Baltimore Comedy Factory

• Lavar Walker — Jan. 2–4
• Rodney Perry — Jan. 9–11
• The Beauty in Black Experience (Ricco Ross) — Jan. 18