The City of Issaquah, in partnership with Onyx Fine Arts Collective, will be showcasing Pacific Northwest Black and African American artists at The Art of Freedom exhibit this weekend.

The exhibit, located at the Issaquah Community Center, will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25 and will show 20 pieces of artwork by nine artists.

Alongside the artwork, Fattboy Catering will provide desserts and hot beverages.

The Art of Freedom exhibit, curated by Annie Hudson-McKnight and Robert Horton, board members at the Onyx Fine Arts Collective, will feature a variety of artworks, spanning from abstract to representational styles, incorporating historical elements.

Earnest Thomas, president of the Onyx Fine Arts Collective, said some featured artists come from engineering, architecture, photography, woodworking, and graphic design backgrounds. Visitors can anticipate artwork with diverse mediums, including pieces made with acrylic, mixed media, oil and wood.

The theme of the exhibit, Thomas said, aligns with the overall message of the Onyx Fine Arts Collective.

“We see art as a means to bridge the communication gap between our communities,” he said. “And in general, to show from soul to soul, the true feelings of people in underserved communities.”

The nonprofit, located in Seattle, began in 2006 with seven artists, and through nearly two decades, the gallery has worked with 800 artists stretching from Portland and as far east as Spokane.

Onyx Fine Arts Collective exhibits have reached Portland, Everett and Tri-Cities, Thomas said, with another exhibit called Elevating Voices currently featuring 17 artists at Bellevue City Hall.