Member Preview
The Living Temple: The World of Moki Cherry and HOST: Laura Lit
Members see it first!
Celebrate the opening of The Contemporary Austin's fall 2026 exhibitions with a special preview just for Members.
Exclusive first look
Ahead of the Public Opening, Members get early access to The Living Temple: The World of Moki Cherry, the largest U.S. exhibition by the boundary-breaking artist, and HOST: Laura Lit, a suite of drawings and new sculpture by the Austin-based artist presented in conjunction with Lit's outdoor exhibition at Laguna Gloria.
Laura Lit will be in attendance, as will Moki’s granddaughter, multi-disciplinary artist and musician Naima Nefertari.
Music, artmaking, and more!
• Make your own Moki-inspired, iron-on patch in the 2nd floor Community Room
• Hear welcome remarks kicking off the celebrations
• Vibe to an all vinyl-DJ set by acclaimed filmmaker and educator Ephraim Asili on the Moody Rooftop
Just for Members
• While supplies last! Members can enjoy free snacks from Cornucopia and Mr. Pickles Candy, and complimentary bar refreshments with their Member wristband
Parking and accommodations
• Parking is available at paid street meters and nearby commercial garages and lots. Rideshare or public transportation is highly encouraged.
• For accommodation requests, please contact [email protected].
Sign in with your Member ID to RSVP.
Your reservation includes admission to the full evening; however, priority access and Member-only perks are limited to the Member Preview from 6:30–8P. Retrieve your Member wristband at check-in to access complimentary snacks and drinks.
Ephraim Asili is an African American filmmaker, educator, and DJ whose work explores the African diaspora as a cultural force. His 2020 feature debut The Inheritance premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, won the Grand Prize at Cinéma du Réel, and was the subject of an exhibition at the Whitney Museum, where it's now part of the permanent collection. Asili is a Guggenheim Fellow, Harvard Radcliffe Fellow, and 2025 USA Artist Fellow, and is currently completing his second feature, Don & Moki: Organic Music Society, a hybrid essay/documentary on the collaborative practice of Don Cherry and Moki Cherry. Clips from this in-progress documentary will be featured in the exhibition The Living Temple: The World of Moki Cherry.
As a DJ for over 20 years, Asili has built a global reputation for his all-vinyl sets spanning Funk, Disco, House, Afro Latin, and Rare Groove, and has performed at venues including the Whitney Museum, Amant Foundation, and Basilica Hudson’s “24-Hour Drone Fest.”
Thank You to our In-Kind Sponsors
Cornucopia Popcorn • Mr. Pickles Candy • Tito’s Handmade Vodka
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Our exhibitions and programs are made possible through the support of our Members. Thank you for being a part of our community and helping further The Contemporary's mission to bring more art to more people.