Sana Musasama’s ceramic work is currently being exhibited at the New York Historical Society! 

The works in this exhibition are inspired by “Thomas Commeraw. An African American potter who operated a pottery business in 1800, where city hall is today. In 2003, it was discovered that Commeraw was a black man, born enslaved and emancipated with his mother at the age of 8. His vessels have strong shoulders, fluid lips and handles, the salt firing with its glistering puddles of glaze, lace the body of the works majestically, the decorative motif that surrounds the necks of the jugs in cobalt blue are fresh, precise, vivacious, and very beautiful. I found echoes of his past weaved into my life as an artist and activist. This was a great honor to be saturated by this man’s life and work. We both traveled to Sierra Leone. Thomas in 1820. Me in 1978. Both of us searching. Both of us brown folk. The exhibit is up until May 2. Come and witness these beautiful pots. They are whispering his name. Thomas Commeraw.” – Sana Musasama

You can listen to Professor Musasama discuss this project in her interview  on WNYC Radio: https://www.wnyc.org/story/story-free-black-potter-thomas-w-commeraw

In addition to the interview, there are several press articles about the exhibition that mention Professor Musasama’s work:

·  Antiques and the Arts Weekly: Thomas W. Commeraw: How Groundbreaking Research Restored A Master New York Potter To Prominence

·  ArtDaily: New-York Historical Society reveals the extraordinary story of a Black artisan in post-revolutionary New York

Sugar Cane: This week in Black Art and Culture: Black History Exhibitions

Congratulations Sana!