06/11/2026
Uncover the layered imagery in mural portion of our current "Wall to Wall" exhibition:
“The Harvesters,” draws on African, Caribbean, and African American traditions to connect history, belief, and resistance.
On the left side, two dancing figures with face jugs for heads reference a ceramic tradition begun by enslaved African potters in South Carolina. Artist Antoine Williams builds on this history to explore transformation and identity. A nearby black panther evokes Black Radical Tradition, while the resilient okra flowers, a symbol of endurance, speak to African seeds that were carried across the Atlantic to the United States.
A Drunkard's Path patterned quilt hangs on a vine. The winding, unpredictable design of this pattern was thought to warn freedom seekers during the period of American enslavement to move carefully to avoid capture. For Williams, the winding design also reflects the unique pathways of neurodivergent thinking.
At its center, a figure wears a Log Cabin quilt pattern, which symbolizes safety. Roots extend from her eyes, linking her to others in the mural.
On the opposite side, a masked figure with eight arms, an echo of Anansi - the clever spider from African folklore - cradles a face jug within a Southern mangrove tree. Its winding roots suggest caution and clever navigation.
Together, these elements form an ecosystem, a community of figures that help each other thrive and survive. The mural becomes a metaphor for creating space for varied ways of being, especially for those whose identities intersect at Blackness and neurodivergence.
There's only a month left to see this edition of "Wall to Wall," so make sure to plan your BMA visit soon!
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Antoine Williams (born 1980), "The Harvesters," 2025, bond paper; Commissioned by the by the Birmingham Museum of Art, Alabama, for the annual lobby exhibtion, "Wall to Wall," T.2025.120
