Black Genome Project Exhibition Will Close in St. Louis
The exhibition A Blueprint of Us concludes its run at The Luminary with a final reception on October 9.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in African-American
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The five-year Black Genome Project exhibition titled A Blueprint of Us will conclude its run on October 10, 2026. A closing reception will be held on October 9 at 7 p.m. at The Luminary in St. Louis.
Why it matters
This project sought to center Black voices in genetics and address the historical exclusion of Black communities from medical research. Researchers integrated focus group research, surveys, and community meetings to develop the artistic content.
The project spans five years of community listening and building. The exhibition remains open for final public hours on October 10 from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
The players
Black Genome Project
This is an initiative that integrates research and artistic expression to address the exclusion of Black communities from medical studies.
The Luminary
Located on Cherokee Street in St. Louis, this arts space serves as the venue for the exhibition.
Brett Maricque
He is a geneticist at Washington University School of Medicine who contributed to the research project.
Chelsey R. Carter
She is a medical anthropologist at Yale University who helped lead the research effort.
The details
The exhibition features works from artists including Adrian Octavius Walker, Damon Davis, and Chanel Thomas, among others. The initiative used anthropology and ethnography to engage local participants in the creation of its content.
Timeline
The closing reception begins on October 9, 2026, at 7 p.m.
The final day of public hours for the exhibition is October 10, 2026.
Roadmap
The project reflects a broader trend of integrating arts-based community engagement into scientific research pipelines. This model shifts from traditional clinical study methods toward a framework that emphasizes historical context and local community collaboration.
Residents can visit The Luminary on Cherokee Street during the final public viewing window on October 10. The closing reception offers a final opportunity for community members to engage with the project creators.
The takeaway
The project demonstrates how interdisciplinary collaboration between anthropologists and artists can surface critical insights regarding healthcare equity. These efforts highlight the importance of inclusive community engagement in future medical research paradigms.
Further reading
Learn more about local cultural initiatives on the African-American page.
More information
For more information on the project's history, visit the Black Genome Project official website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by St. Louis American.
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Do community-led research projects make you more likely to trust genetic and medical science?
