The City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA) will open its 2023 exhibition series Expressions! with the exhibit, “Steppin’ Back in Time: Houston in Retrospect.” Houston Informer Foundation, Inc. (HIFI), originated this photography exhibition and virtual reality experience celebrating Black-owned businesses and community leaders of color in Houston.

The exhibit covers the years 1893 through the 1950s as documented by Houston Informer and Texas Freeman newspapers and includes a high-tech twist to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Black History Month.

"I look forward to exhibitions such as these that allow us to take a closer look at the history of the African American community, black-owned businesses and community leaders documented in a newspaper like The Houston Informer and Texas Freeman, considered to be the oldest Black newspaper published west of the Mississippi," said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “These exhibitions give us a better understanding of how Houston came to be and how its residents express themselves. I am excited for the next exhibitions by local artists and organizations that will follow suit and tackle the theme of Expression from different lenses; a true picture of the diverse city we call home.”

The exhibition will be held in the City Hall rotunda from January 18 to February 28, 2023. It will open with a ribbon-cutting and reception at Noon on Wednesday, January 18.

“The exhibition is the perfect opener for the series,” stated Necole S. Irvin, MOCA Director. “It highlights self-expression and the African American residents who made a difference in Houston, fought racism, and overcame other barriers. We are proud to partner with HIFI and the Office of Business Opportunity to lift up these important stories.”

Expressions!, a series of exhibitions curated by Community Liaison Victor Ancheta, will continue throughout the year with five other planned exhibitions.