“The Origin of Others. Rewriting Art History in the Americas, 19th Century – Today”, organized in partnership with the Clark Art Institute, is a multifaceted research programme conducted between 2021 and 2024. It focuses on Black and Indigenous women artists across three broad geographical regions: Latin America, the Caribbean, and the United States. The project title references the 2017 collection of essays by author Toni Morrison.

Looking to bridge the gap created by sexism, racism, and geographical discrimination, the programme opens discussion around what it means to “achieve institutional visibility” and how writing the history of Black and Indigenous women artists might challenge existing academic boundaries. Central questions include: What are the complexities of being a Black or Indigenous woman artist across these geographies? What different fundamental societal impediments do these artists face? How can we learn from the past to produce new narratives?

The programme includes the publication of texts and videos, research residencies and the organisation of events: AWARE and Women Photographers International Archive (WOPHA) in partnership with Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) organized On the Edge of Visibility – An International Symposium, which took place at the PAMM on 19 and 20 October, 2023.

Researchers Christelle Lozère and Kássia Borges and were AWARE were residents at the Villa Vassilieff.