Imagine stepping into a gallery that never physically existed—until now. This spring, Winterthur Museum presents Almost Unknown, The Afric-American Picture Gallery, an exhibition inspired by a visionary 19th-century essay written by William J. Wilson, a free Black journalist and educator. Opening May 3, 2025, this groundbreaking exhibition, curated by historian Jonathan Michael Square, brings Wilson’s imagined gallery to life for the first time. 

In 1859, Wilson published The Afric-American Picture Gallery in The Anglo-African Magazine under the pen name “Ethiop.” In a series of installments, he described an imaginary gallery filled with artworks that depicted the experiences of free and enslaved Black Americans. His writings guided readers through the space, celebrating Black excellence while also confronting the harsh realities of 19th-century life.  

Now, more than 150 years later, Winterthur is turning Wilson’s vision into reality. 

Jonathan Michael Square, a leading scholar of Black visual culture, has carefully selected drawings, paintings, sculptures, and objects from Winterthur’s vast collection to construct a physical representation of Wilson’s literary gallery. The exhibition will explore Black life in America and the African Diaspora through a variety of historical objects, from silhouettes to decorative arts to rare books, including works by Phillis Wheatley and Harriet Beecher Stowe. 

Square’s approach is both historical and reflective. “The objects visitors will see may not be the exact ones that Wilson described,” he explains. “Instead, they reflect my reading of the text and its relevance today as it is revealed in the Winterthur collection.” 

To further explore the themes of the exhibition, Winterthur will offer a special house tour highlighting Square’s interpretation of The Afric-American Picture Gallery.  

Additionally, on November 14–15, 2025, Winterthur will host a symposium, Looking Back to the Future: Realizing “The Afric-American Picture Gallery”. The event will bring together educators, museum professionals, and scholars of African American history to discuss Wilson’s work and its impact. Keynote speaker Fred Wilson—renowned for his groundbreaking 1992 exhibition Mining the Museum—will share his insights on curating history, race, and culture.  

By reimagining Wilson’s Afric-American Picture Gallery, Winterthur is shining a light on overlooked narratives in American history. This exhibition challenges visitors to consider the ways in which art, literature, and museum spaces shape our understanding of the past—and how they can be used to build a more inclusive future. 

Be among the first to step inside Wilson’s once-imaginary gallery. Almost Unknown, The Afric-American Picture Gallery is on view from May 3, 2025, through January 6, 2026, at Winterthur Museum.