The Fralin Museum of Art at The University of Virginia will present Legacies of Independence, a slate of four exhibitions exploring varied themes and perspectives around the legacies of Thomas Jefferson and the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. On view from August 29, 2026, through January 3, 2027, the exhibitions take both historic and contemporary approaches to consider the ways Jefferson helped shape the United States in its infancy and promoted ideals we continue to deliberate to this day.
The exhibitions explore a variety of perspectives that range from a site-specific installation by internationally acclaimed artist Georges Adéagbo, to an examination of Jefferson’s time in Southern France through eighteenth and early nineteenth-century prints, drawings, rare books, maps, and objects. The Fralin will also showcase 19th century Native American artist Narcissa Chisholm Owen’s painting Jefferson and His Descendents and Sky Hopinka’s video installation Mnemonics of Shape and Reason, to further celebrate the museum’s recognition of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Georges Adéagbo: Thomas Jefferson and the Legacies of Independence
August 29, 2026 – January 3, 2027
The Fralin Museum of Art has invited internationally acclaimed artist Georges Adéagbo (b. 1942, Benin) to build upon his previous works about Abraham Lincoln. Adéagbo is creating a site-specific installation centered on Thomas Jefferson, his life at Monticello, and the changing meanings of independence over time. Georges Adéagbo: Thomas Jefferson and the Legacies of Independence brings together archives, found objects, and newly created art objects to provide a global perspective and immersive experience exploring Jefferson, his peers, and the ongoing pursuit of the ideals of independence and equality…