Meet the Artists Bodies of Labor: Hands That Built a Nation

Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking panel discussion in conjunction with the exhibition Bodies of Labor: Hands That Built a Nation, which explores the powerful and complex depictions of Black labor throughout American history. From the bondage of enslaved Africans to the contributions of Black industrial and agricultural workers, and through to contemporary interpretations, this exhibition highlights the enduring narratives of resilience, exploitation, dignity, and identity. Through visual art, these stories are not only preserved—they are challenged and redefined. Art has served as both witness and critique of the socio-economic and racial hierarchies that have shaped Black labor across centuries. This special event will feature artists P. Muzi Branch, S. Ross Browne, Martha Jones-Carter, and Austin Miles, who will each present their work and discuss how their artistic practice responds to and reflects the exhibition’s central themes of labor, legacy, and lived experience.