Harvard's Alain Locke Gallery Hosts 'Van Lévé' Exhibition on Caribbean and Amazonian Sovereignty
An exhibition entitled 'An Introduction to Van Lévé' will debut at Harvard University's Alain Locke Gallery on September 28, 2026, and continue through June 5, 2027. Curated by Claire Tancons, the show will highlight the works of contemporary and historical artists from the Creole and Maroon regions of the Caribbean and Amazon. It will explore essential themes of resistance and sovereignty, showcasing influential figures, including Minia Biabiany and Raphaël Barontini. This multi-generational showcase aims to illuminate the effects of colonial history on artistic practices and cultural evolution in Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane, and Haiti from 2001 to the present.
Key facts
- Exhibition title: 'An Introduction to Van Lévé. Sovereign Visions from the Creole and Maroon Caribbean and Amazonia: Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane & Haiti: 2001-Now'
- Curated by Claire Tancons
- On view at the Alain Locke Gallery of African & African American Art at Harvard University
- Dates: 28 September 2026 to 5 June 2027
- Artists include Minia Biabiany, Raphaël Barontini, Gaëlle Choisne, Kenny Dunkan, David Gumbs, Manuel Mathieu, Tessa Mars, Cédrine Scheidig, and Hervé Télémaque
- The exhibition focuses on territories in the Americas formerly under French colonial rule
- It is the first chapter of a wider curatorial project
- Themes: colonialism, resistance, cultural transformation, sovereignty, emancipation
Entities
Artists
- Minia Biabiany
- Raphaël Barontini
- Gaëlle Choisne
- Kenny Dunkan
- David Gumbs
- Manuel Mathieu
- Tessa Mars
- Cédrine Scheidig
- Hervé Télémaque
- Claire Tancons
- Cécile Fromont
Institutions
- Alain Locke Gallery of African & African American Art
- Harvard University
- Hutchins Center for African & African American Research
- EXTEMPORA
Locations
- Guadeloupe
- Martinique
- Guyane
- Haiti
- Caribbean
- Amazonia
- Cambridge
- United States