KENT — The photography exhibition “Posing Beauty in African American Culture” opens Friday at the Kent State University Museum.

The collection includes more than 100 images spanning the 20th and 21st centuries that explore the ways in which African and African American beauty have been represented in historical and contemporary contexts through a diverse range of media including photography, video, fashion and advertising.

Included in the exhibition are many renowned artists and photographers including, Hank Willis Thomas, Mickalene Thomas, Carrie Mae Weems, Lyle Ashton Harris and Gordon Parks.

According to Director Sarah J. Rogers, “This powerful collection of images engages us in important conversations around beauty and representations of black and non-Western bodies. The images allow visitors of color to see themselves and then question how others may see them and how they see themselves.

“Our hope is that the exhibition will continue conversations we began with last year’s exhibition, ‘TEXTURES: the History and Art of Black Hair.'”

Coinciding with the opening will be a lecture at noon Friday by Tameka Ellington, one of the curators of the “TEXTURES” exhibition. Ellington is a fashion scholar, activist and motivational speaker who will speak on “The Story of the Body Image of Black Women.”

The talk is free with admission to the museum, and free for KSU students and museum members.

The exhibition was organized by the Department of Photography and Imaging at New York University, Tisch School of the Arts and curated by Deborah Willis, University Professor and Chair of the Department. The touring exhibition is made possible in part by the J. P. Morgan Chase Foundation and Curatorial Assistance, Inc.

“Posing Beauty in African American Culture” will be on display through Dec. 17 at the museum, 515 Hilltop Drive, Kent. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for senior citizens and $4 for children ages 5 to 7. Admission is free for children ages 4 and younger and those with a Kent State ID. Admission is free on Sunday. For more information go to www.kent.edu/museum or call 330-672-3450.