Source
Oct 5, 2025 – Dec 21, 2025

Exhibition 'The Sacred Space' in Kunstlinie

For generations, barbershops have been far more than places of skillful grooming. They have served as vital gathering spaces for Black men — places to meet, share stories, and build community.

In The Sacred Space, photographer Xaveer May shines a light on the barbershop as one of these meaningful cultural hubs. Through powerful photography and visual storytelling, he brings to life the emotional, aesthetic, and social value of this environment. His images reveal the layers of brotherhood, representation, and masculinity, showing how these values are lived, strengthened, and passed on.

About the Artist
Xaveer May (1994) is a self-taught visual artist from Amsterdam with a keen eye for capturing people and their surroundings. Driven by an inner motivation rooted in journalism, archiving, and visual storytelling, he has developed a personal approach to photography that centers on community, culture, and layered human experience.

His work often unfolds through long-term relationships and in-depth research, allowing space for trust, intimacy, and reflection. Rather than observing from the outside, Xaveer moves within the communities he photographs, creating room for stories that are often overlooked or left untold. For him, the process of making is just as important as the final image. He continually seeks ways to make these stories visible, share them, and ensure they endure.

Collaboration and Context
The Sacred Space is a collaboration between Kunstlinie Almere, Motion Fades, and The Next Way, and is part of Black Achievement Month Netherlands: an annual celebration of the strength, creativity, and contributions of the Black community in the Netherlands. With thanks to the Municipality of Almere for supporting this exhibition.

Black Achievement Month 2025
This exhibition is presented as part of Black Achievement Month 2025. This year, the program places the Black man at its center, in a series of events that move, confront, and connect. From Almere, a city of future and diversity, we begin a national dialogue about identity, community, and resilience.

More information

Kunstlinie