ATHENS, GA.- Today, the Georgia Museum of Art and the descendants of renowned enslaved ceramicist David Drake announced an agreement recognizing Mr. Drake’s heirs as the rightful beneficiaries of his artwork, while creating a path for the museum to own and display the artwork so that visitors from around the world may continue to learn about Mr. Drake's history and enduring legacy.
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Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave
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Discover the remarkable story of Dave the Potter through ceramics, poetry, American history, craftsmanship, and the enduring legacy of an enslaved artist.
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David Drake, or “Dave the Potter,” was a highly skilled enslaved African American ceramicist living in the pottery center in Edgefield, South Carolina, in the mid-19th century. According to his descendants, Mr. Drake was forced to create tens of thousands of ceramic vessels, of which an estimated 250 identifiable pieces remain in museums and private collections. During a period when it was against the law to teach enslaved persons to read or write, Mr. Drake inscribed his jars with his name, the date and original verses of poetry. Today, Mr. Drake's works are recognized as masterpieces of American art, are the subject of museum shows, books and catalogues, and have set auction records.
“David Drake created work of extraordinary skill, beauty and utility while enslaved — work he was never permitted to own, sell or pass on to his own family,” said David Odo, former director and chief curator at the Georgia Museum of Art (Odo recently accepted a position as director and CEO of the Honolulu Museum of Art). “This agreement with the Dave the Potter Legacy Trust LLC (is a small way in which the Georgia Museum can recognize this history. I'm grateful to his descendants for their trust in this process and honored that our visitors will now encounter his work knowing his family's voice helped shape how his story is told.”
“Just imagine how it would feel if your ancestor created artwork of incredible value, but neither he nor his family were ever allowed to benefit from the work,” said Yaba Baker, fourth great-grandson of David Drake. “My family and I are so pleased to have worked with the Georgia Museum of Art to secure this historic agreement and bring justice to our family after 175 years. We consider the Georgia Museum a partner in our efforts to recover our ancestor’s legacy, and we are grateful to the museum’s leadership for acting quickly and being responsible stewards of his artwork.”
“For decades, museums have embraced principles of ethical restitution for Jewish and Indigenous communities and foreign governments, but these principles have not been applied to artwork created by enslaved Americans,” said George Fatheree, attorney for Mr. Drake’s family and the Dave the Potter Legacy Trust LLC, an entity formed for the benefit of Drake’s family. “We have invited museums to apply the same moral framework to the artwork created by David Drake, and we’re grateful for the leadership shown by the Georgia Museum of Art to join other museums and private collectors who have chosen to do the right thing. I’m honored to have played a role in brokering this agreement with the Georgia Museum of Art, and will continue to advocate for the family and the legacy of David Drake.”
