Join us for a lecture by Olivia Zen Joseph, curator of Layered Narratives, developed during their time at Mingei as the Quilt Fellow. This talk explores how quilts from the era and firsthand accounts of Black American experiences reframe the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition — the United States’ first World’s Fair. While the Centennial aimed to celebrate national identity and innovation, the lecture sheds light on the overlooked contributions and voices of Black women and the Black community, expanding understanding of this historic event through stories too often left untold.
Olivia Zen Joseph is a Program Coordinator at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino and the curator of Layered Narratives: Quilted Stories of Gender & Race at the 1876 Centennial. Drawn to interpretation, history, and storytelling, they are passionate about uncovering the complex meanings and histories embedded in art and objects. Olivia entered the museum field through an internship in Collections Management and Conservation at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Looking ahead, they plan to pursue a degree in Library and Information Science with the goal of becoming an archivist.