Georges Adéagbo: The Legacies of Independence

In recognition of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA has invited internationally acclaimed artist Georges Adéagbo (b. 1942) to build upon his previous works on Abraham Lincoln. In his exhibition at The Fralin, Adéagbo will create a site-specific installation at The Fralin centered on Thomas Jefferson, his relationships, and the changing meanings of independence over time. Georges Adéagbo and the Legacies of Independence will bring together archives, found objects, and newly created art objects to provide a global perspective and immersive experience exploring Jefferson, his peers, and the ongoing pursuit of the ideals of independence and equality.

Adéagbo created the first of a series of presidential portraits of Abraham Lincoln in 2000. Abraham—L’ami de Dieu at New York’s Museum of Modern Art wove together visual and textual narratives that weighed the concepts of sacrifice and freedom, linking the freeing of slaves in the United States with global liberation movements. In 2023, he created a three-part exhibition, Create to Free Yourselves—Abraham Lincoln and the History of Freeing Slaves in America, that traveled from Lincoln’s Cottage to Chesterwood (the museum and former studio of Daniel Chester French), to the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. During this endeavor, the artist learned of Thomas Jefferson, the slave owning architect of the Declaration of Independence. These contradictions—the question of for whom Jefferson created space for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness—and what they mean today, have captivated Adéagbo’s interest and are at the heart of the proposed exhibition at The Fralin: Georges Adéagbo and the Legacies of Independence.

Curated by Karen E. Milbourne, J. Sanford Miller Family Director, with Ariel Ankrah, Curatorial Assistant. Additional thanks to Dr. Stephan Köhler, Adéagbo’s collaborative partner.

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