Black Doll Exhibit

Exhibit on view Feb. 7-28, 2026
Entry to exhibit is free to all museum guests and accessible from the museum’s main entrance

New York State Senator April N.M. Baskin will host the seventh annual Black Doll Exhibit to celebrate Black History Month at the Buffalo Museum of Science.

Curated by local doll collector Lisa Jacobs-Watson, the annual Black Doll Exhibit examines the importance of representation and how dolls can be critical to young people’s development of identity and imagination. The theme of this year’s collection is “Through the eyes of Black dolls: Our history will not be erased.”

OPENING WEEKEND PROGRAMS FEB. 7 & 8
Click to view flyer

Activity Day  |  Saturday, Feb. 7 

• 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: Show-and-Tell:
  Bring your favorite doll! Take center stage with Miss Adri-V and others t oshare your doll story.
• 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: demeDoll apparel by demeBeatty:
  Miss Christine Demetria Wingo will share hands-on sewing techniques for making doll clothes. Each participant is encouraged to bring their favorite doll to make their own clothing for it.
• Storybook Time:
  Book author, Miss Kara Oliver-Perez, will read her original works and share an added surprise.

Black Barbie Documentary  |  Sunday, Feb. 8  |  Showtimes at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

The documentary shares the untold story of the first Black Barbie doll and the pivotal role that three trailblazing Black women had in working with the Mattel Company in 1980 to produce a doll that looked like them.

More About the Exhibit:

“I am excited to again sponsor the Black Doll Exhibit for the seventh year in a row,” Sen. Baskin said. “This year’s theme reminds us that representation of Black voices, stories, and experiences are not optional. These dolls — carefully chosen from Curator Lisa Jacobs-Watson’s extensive collection — tell stories of resilience, imagination, and belonging. This exhibit shows young people that their stories matter and their history is worthy of being seen. Through the eyes of Black dolls, we affirm that our history, culture, and identity will not be erased. Thank you to the Buffalo Museum of Science for hosting the collection so children and families of all backgrounds can engage with our history.”

“For decades, I have collected dolls not just as keepsakes, but as symbols of representation,” Jacobs-Watson said. “Each doll in this exhibit carries a story, preserves our history, and affirms our culture and identity. When young people see dolls that look like them, they learn that they belong, that they are valued, and that their history deserves to be honored. I am proud to share this collection with the community and to remind young people that who they are matters.”