Jeremy Okai Davis Exhibits Portraits of Oregon Black Pioneers
ReEnvisioned: Contemporary Portraits of Our Black Ancestors
January 10 – February 23, 2025 | A.N. Bush Gallery, Salem, OR
In 2022 the Salem Art Association commissioned Jeremy Okai Davis to paint a series of portraits as part of their broader effort to reinvent and reimagine the Bush House Museum. The curators of this historic site are acutely aware of the harm Asahel Bush inflicted on people of color in Oregon and that people of color are painfully underrepresented in most permanent collections, including their own.
The invitation to Jeremy was simple: tell the story of early Black pioneers whose contributions to Oregon history have long been overlooked. Here, we’re pleased to present the portraits included in this exhibition with links to biographical pages about these pioneers. For more information on Oregon Black Pioneers, visit oregonblackpioneers.org.
Elizabeth Leach Gallery has represented Davis since 2019. Click here to learn more about his practice and artworks.
Jeremy Okai Davis
ReEnvisioned: Contemporary Portraits of Our Black Ancestors
Beatrice Morrow Cannady (1889-1974)
The Advocate (Beatrice Morrow Cannady), 2022
acrylic on canvas
60 x 48"
Letitia Carson (1815-1888)
The Homesteader (Letitia Carson), 2024
acrylic on canvas
60 x 48"
Thomas C. King (1847-1904)
The Homesteader (Landowner) Thomas King, 2024
acrylic on canvas
60 x 48"
Louis Southworth (1829-1917)
The Fiddler (Louis Southworth), 2023
acrylic on canvas
60 x 48"
Roscoe Dixon (1844-1916)
The Restauranteur (Roscoe Dixon), 2024
acrylic on canvas
60 x 48"
Louisa Sewell (1842-1893)
The Hostess (Louisa Sewell), 2023
acrylic on canvas
60 x 48"
America Waldo Bogle (1844-1903)
The Bogles (America Waldo Bogle and Family), 2023
acrylic on canvas
50 x 72"