Kassie M. Edwards

A research-based exploration into the overlooked contributions of enslaved African and African American artists in the 18th and 19th centuries. Topics include:

African Origins of Art – Tracing the earliest artistic expressions to Africa and challenging Eurocentric art history narratives.

Intersection of Slavery and Art – How the transatlantic slave trade brought skilled African artisans to the Americas, reshaping cultural and artistic landscapes.

Profiles of Enslaved Artists – Case studies of Prince Demah, Scipio Moorhead, the Fleet brothers, Neptune Thurston, Joshua Johnson, and Moses Williams.

Creativity in Bondage – The concept of “Coercive Arts” and “Creative Coercism” to describe works produced under enslavement.

Updating the Canon – Advocating for intentional inclusion of enslaved artists in academic curricula, museum interpretation, and art history discourse.