Georges Adéagbo Confronts Jefferson and the Unfinished Business of Freedom at The Fralin
From August 29, 2026, to January 3, 2027, The Fralin Museum of Art in Charlottesville, Virginia, will showcase a significant installation by Georges Adéagbo, an artist from Benin. Titled “Georges Adéagbo and the Legacies of Independence,” this exhibit investigates the complexities surrounding Thomas Jefferson’s legacy, examining his dual identity as the drafter of the Declaration of Independence and a slaveholder. Adéagbo's work incorporates various found objects, texts, and original pieces to question traditional historical narratives while engaging audiences in discussions about freedom and identity, particularly in the context of the museum’s connection to Jefferson.
Key facts
- The exhibition 'Georges Adéagbo and the Legacies of Independence' opens at The Fralin Museum of Art on 29 August 2026.
- The exhibition runs until 3 January 2027.
- Georges Adéagbo is an internationally acclaimed Beninese artist.
- Central to the exhibition is Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and an enslaver.
- The show includes found objects, texts, images, and newly created works.
- This project follows Adéagbo's earlier investigations centered on Abraham Lincoln and global liberation movements.
- The exhibition explores themes of independence, freedom, and who has been allowed to claim liberty and equality.
- The venue is The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia.
Entities
Artists
- Georges Adéagbo
- Thomas Jefferson
- Abraham Lincoln
Institutions
- The Fralin Museum of Art
- University of Virginia
Locations
- Benin
- Virginia