The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) has selected abdu mongo ali, a multi-disciplinary artist, musician, and poet, as the first Alice and Franklin Cooley Composer in Residence. Ali’s residency began in September and will conclude on January 22 with a performance titled “between every breath, there is atmosphere.” This work will be both sonic and visual, exploring how the southern Atlantic atmospheric and ecological conditions of Maryland impact contemporary Black residents in Baltimore. The title comes from a collection of poems by ali that reflect on the interconnectedness of Black identity, gay life, and the ongoing legacy of slavery.
The BMA’s new residency program encourages artists to use the museum’s collection and exhibitions as sources for creative exploration. As part of its Turn Again to the Earth initiative—which focuses on art and environmental themes—the museum invited ali to respond to a prompt centered around ecology.
Artists in this residency receive a stipend, special access to the museum’s collections, workspace within the museum if desired, and opportunities for public engagement. The culmination includes a live presentation or performance of their work, resources for visitors to engage with collection-inspired pieces, and an interview with BMA Stories about their experience.
Asma Naeem, BMA Dorothy Wagner Wallis Director, stated: “I was prompted to create this residency as a result of some of the cross-disciplinary artistic presentations that have inspired me the most. Baltimore has a rich artistic community that both connects and transcends traditionally defined genres, and I could think of no one more fitting to be our inaugural Composer in Residence than abdu ali, whose life and work creatively crosses boundaries of all kinds.”
Founded in 1914, the Baltimore Museum of Art houses over 97,000 objects from various cultures and eras. Its holdings include major works by Henri Matisse along with significant collections of prints, drawings, photographs, and contemporary art. The museum occupies a neoclassical building designed by John Russell Pope near Johns Hopkins University and maintains a branch at Lexington Market. General admission is free.
