Leilah Babirye

The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston presents a solo exhibition of Ugandan sculptor Leilah Babirye, on view August 27, 2026, through January 18, 2027. Babirye works with ceramics, wood, and found debris, from gears to the rubber inner tubes of bicycle tires, to craft powerful headdresses, jewelry, and ceramic forms. The exhibition ruminates on queer weddings through ceramic sculptures, with Babirye creating every role from the bride to the flower girl. The figures gather in celebration alongside large-scale works in charred wood that stand as aunties, uncles, and ancestors observing the ceremony. Babirye, who fled Uganda after being outed as gay, is dedicated to uplifting queer identities, and her first book accompanies the show.