Contemporary artists depict the realities and possibilities of the past, often as a commentary on the present.
1980 - present
videos + essays
We're adding new content all the time!
The National Memorial for Peace and Justice (Equal Justice Initiative)
The first monument to commemorate the over 4,000 African Americans who were lynched in the early 20th century.
Julie Mehretu, HOWL, eon (I, II)
Julie Mehretu rethinks American landscape painting by merging its sublime imagery with the harsh realities not depicted
Maya Lin’s Silver Upper White River
The river's brilliant reflections gave shape to this enormous sculpture of silver.
Sebastião Salgado’s Kuwait
Finding heroism amidst one of the earth's most destructive environmental disasters.
Superman, World War II, and Japanese-American experience
Superman makes an appearance in what looks (at first sight) like a Japanese print.
What’s in a map? Jaune Quick-to-See Smith’s State Names
Thinking about our history in a different way helps us rethink our present.
History and deception: Kenseth Armstead’s Surrender Yorktown 1781
How can we begin to correct the lies of history? Artist Kenseth Armstead suggests a poetic solution.
Thornton Dial, Blood and Meat: Survival For The World
An unflinching memorial to civil rights martyrs by the contemporary artist Thorton Dial
Titus Kaphar, The Cost of Removal
Kaphar takes a violent history and renders it visible in this modified portrait of Andrew Jackson.
