With Liberty and Justice is an exhibition of nine contemporary artists that reflects on the history of America, evaluates gaps in historical knowledge, and questions the mythology of America in the collective imagination. Through the works of artists Christian Bañez (New York, NY), Eliseo Casiano (Batesville, AR), Michelle Chan (Kansas City, MO), Drea DiCarlo (Kansas City, MO), Leon Jones (Kansas City, MO), Le’Andra LeSeur (Jersey City, NJ), Andrew Mcilvaine (Kansas City, MO), Natalia Nakazawa (New York, NY), and Courtney Faye Taylor (Kansas City, MO), the exhibition presents multi-faceted perspectives on America, our shared histories, and honors those who came before us.
Drawing upon these larger historical moments and personal stories of familial ties, this exhibition prompts a critical reading of American history: a history that has so often overlooked, disenfranchised, and inflicted violence upon people of color. The guiding principles of the Constitution of the United States of America demand justice and liberty for all. And yet, the lived experiences of countless American communities diverge from this idealized vision of equality. The selection of artists represents a view toward the future. Through an acknowledgement of the past, each artist asserts their own presence in contemporary America and an artistic vision that pushes toward progress, resilience, and justice.
Featuring: Christian Bañez, Eliseo Casiano, Michelle Chan, Drea DiCarlo, Leon Jones, Le’Andra LeSeur, Andrew Mcilvaine, Natalia Nakazawa, and Courtney Faye Taylor
