Improvisations in Color: Wosene Worke Kosrof Celebrates Coltrane at 100

— White Linen Afternoon—

THELMA HARRIS ART GALLERY

PRESENTS

Improvisations in Color: Wosene Worke Kosrof Celebrating John Coltrane at 100

This year's celebration features an extraordinary exhibition of new works by internationally acclaimed artist Wosene Worke Kosrof, created in honor of the centennial of legendary jazz musician John Coltrane. Inspired by Coltrane's spirit of innovation, improvisation, and transcendence, Wosene's vibrant visual language transforms written symbols into expressive compositions filled with rhythm, movement, and emotion.

Guests are invited to enjoy an afternoon of exceptional art, conversation, and community while experiencing these remarkable new paintings in an intimate gallery setting. Wosene Worke Kosrof will be in attendance for a special conversation about his work and the inspiration behind this landmark exhibition.

Whether you have collected Wosene's work for years or are discovering his art for the first time, White Linen Afternoon offers a unique opportunity to engage with one of today's most celebrated contemporary artists.

We look forward to welcoming you for an unforgettable afternoon celebrating art, music, culture, and creativity.

August 22, 2026 - October 25, 2026

Gallery reception

Saturday, August 22, 2026

2:00 - 5:00 pm

Please RSVP by Wednesday, August 19, 2026 by calling (510) 654- 0443 or emailing thelmaharris.gallery@gmail.com

- 1972 - present: Professional studio artist: painting and sculpture
- 2000 - 2001: Artist - in - Residence, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Sweet Briar, VA
- 1996: Artist - in - Residence, Rockefeller Foundation, Bellagio, Italy
- 1984: Artist - in - Residence, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Sweet Briar, VA
- National Museum of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa
- Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, Washington, DC
- The Newark Museum, Newark, NJ
- Neuberger Museum of Art, Purchase, NY
- Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, IN Virginia
- Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, VA
- Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, AL
- Crocker Museum of Art, Sacramento, CA
- Museum of African American Art, Los Angeles, CA
- Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA
- Baltimore Art Museum, Baltimore, MD
- The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, MD
- North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh-Durham, NC
- New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA
- Völkerkunde Museum, Zürich, Switzerland
- United Nations, New York, NY Rockefeller Collection, New York, NY
- Library of Congress, Washington, DC
- The Newark Museum, Newark, NJ
- Neuberger Museum of Art, Purchase, NY
- Keith Haring Museum of Japan, Kobuchizawa, Japan
- National Museum of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Fleming Museum, Burlington, VT
- Folkens Museum Etnografiska, Stockholm, Sweden
- Paul Mahder Gallery, Healdsburg, VA
- Skoto Gallery, New York, NY
- Sullivan Goss Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
- Lori Austin Gallery, Sonoma, CA
- Thelma Harris Gallery, Oakland, CA
- Waterkoulors Fine Art Gallery, Memphis, TN
- Hoshigaoka Gallery, Kochi, Japan
- St. George Gallery, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Loft Galeria, Puerto Vallarta, MX
- Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, Washington, DC
- The Newark Museum, Newark, NJ
- Neuberger Museum of Art, Purchase, NY
- Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
- Sharjah Art Museum, Calligraphy Biennial, Sharjah, UAE
- Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando, FL
- Crocker Museum of Art, Sacramento, CA
- Whitechapel Gallery, London, UK
- Zweigmuseum Schloss Oettingen, Oettingen, Germany
- Malmo Konsthall, Stockholm, Sweden
- Fleming Museum, Burlington, VT
- Cantor Museum, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
- Hood Museum, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
- Kennedy Museum of Art, Ohio University, Athens, OH
- Fowler Museum, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
- The New York Times
- Washington Post
- Financial Times
- San Francisco Chronicle
- Winston-Salem Journal
- Philadelphia Tribune
- San Jose Mercury News
- El Nuevo Dia (San Juan, PR)
- Yamanashi News
- African Arts
- Art & Antiques
- ArtWeek Magazine
- WOSENE: Beyond Words, published by Sullivan Goss Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA, 2022
- WordPlay: The Life of Script in Painting and Sculpture by Wosene Worke Kosrof, catalogue accompanying solo exhibition at The National Museum of Ethiopia, 2010-2011
- 1980: MFA, painting and drawing, Howard University, Washington, DC; Ford Foundation Talent Scholar
- 1972: BFA, painting, drawing, design, School of Fine Arts, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Graduated with distinction