BEFORE THE AMERICAS

BEFORE THE AMERICAS

August 25th - November 15th, 2025
Gillespie Gallery, Art and Design Building, Fairfax, VA
Curated by Cheryl Edwards

Before the Americas is an art historical survey featuring 45 works by Afro-Latino, Caribbean, and African American artists, many of whom have lived and worked in Greater Washington. These artists confront racial and colonial constructs and have often been invisible within common art historical narratives. Their works span painting, printmaking, sculpture, book art, performance, and video art. The exhibit traces the significance of these artists through four themes: Genetic Memory, Migration, Invisibility, and Interconnectivity. A public symposium of artists, collectors, and scholars will occur during the exhibition, and additional public programs will engage students and the public. A printed catalogue will be published and will be available online.

The exhibition’s curator, Cheryl Edwards, is a highly respected DC artist and scholar. A significant painting by Sam Gilliam, which was recently donated to the University Art Collection, will be in the exhibition.

Funding from private donors has been received and additional supporters are being cultivated. Please consider making a donation to this important exhibition. This exhibition will be instrumental in Mason Exhibitions’ long-range efforts to establish a Campus Museum in Fairfax. This exhibition was originally scheduled to take place at the Art Museum of the Americas, a branch of the Organization of American States, but was cancelled for budgetary reasons. 

Artists in the Exhibition: 

M.P. Alladin, Trinidad and Tobago, b.1919, d.1980, John Beadle, Bahamas, b.1964, d.2024, Alexander Skunder Boghossian, DC/Ethiopia, b.1937, d.2003, Everald Brown, Jamaica, b.1917, d.2002, Elizabeth Catlett, DC/Mexico, b.1911, d.2012, Irene Clouthier, DC/Mexico, b. 1974, Alonzo Davis, Maryland, b.1942, d.2025, Roberto Diago, Cuba, b.1920, d.1955, David Driskell, DC, b.1931, d.2020, Jallim Eudovic, Saint Lucia, b.1980,Jacinto "Coco" Galloso, Uruguay, Claudia (Azia) Gibson-Hunter, DC, b.1952, Sam Gilliam, DC, b.1932, d.2022, Stanley Greaves, Guyana, b.1934, Curlee Raven Holton, DC/PA, b.1951, Martha Jackson Jarvis, DC, b.1952, Lois Mailou Jones, DC, b.1902, d.1998, Patricia Kaersenhout, Suriname, b.1966, Georges Liautaud, Haiti, b.1899, d.1991, Samella Lewis, DC, b.1923, d.2022, Wifredo Lam, Cuba, b.1899, d.1982, Manuel Mendive, Cuba, b. 1944, E.J. Montgomery, DC, b.1930, d.2025, Bernadette Persaud, Guyana, b.1946, James Phillips, Baltimore MD, b.1945, Martin Puryear, DC, b.1941, Melanie Royster, Maryland, b.1993, Joyce Scott, Baltimore MD, b.1948, Amy Sherald, Baltimore MD, b.1973, Alec Simpson, DC, b.1944, Nelson Stevens, DC, b.1938, d.2022, Renee Stout, DC, b.1958, Lou Stovall, DC, b.1934, d.2023, Michelle Talibah, DC, b.1954, Alma Thomas, DC, b.1891, d.1978, Julio Valdez, Dominican Republic, b.1969, Wilfredo Valladeres, DC/Honduras, b.1968, Luis Vasquez La Roche, VA/Trinidad, b.1983,