The Pyramid Club: Black Leisure and Cultural Empowerment

The Pyramid Club served as a pivotal space for Black professionals, artists, and intellectuals during an era of racial segregation, embodying Alain Locke's "New Negro" philosophy through artistic freedom and integrated cultural exchange. As the club's official photographer, John W. Mosley documented this vibrant community, capturing legendary figures like Duke Ellington, Josephine Baker, and Marian Anderson alongside the club's annual art exhibitions featuring work by Selma Burke, Romare Bearden, Beauford Delaney, Dox Thrash, Laura Wheeler Waring and many others.

The Pyramid Club exhibition presents a multidisciplinary exploration of Philadelphia's historic Pyramid Club, a cornerstone of Black cultural and social life from 1937 to 1963. Through the photography of John W. Mosley, artwork produced during that period from the William A. Dodd Collection, and multimedia elements, the exhibition reveals how this private social club became a vital space for artistic expression, cultural exchange, and community empowerment during the height of segregation. The exhibition uniquely spans two locations—the original Pyramid Club site during the festival and will continue at Temple Contemporary in August—creating a dialogue between past and present through historical objects and contemporary interpretation.

This exhibition represents a unique opportunity to illuminate a vital chapter in Philadelphia's cultural history while forging connections between historical legacy and contemporary relevance. By bringing together extraordinary collections with innovative presentation approaches, the exhibition honors both the artistic contributions and community-building power of this landmark institution. Through this multifaceted exploration, visitors will gain insight into how spaces of leisure and cultural engagement served as sites of resistance, affirmation, and empowerment during a pivotal era in African American history.