BOSTON, November 9, 2023 – The Fall 2023 Tyrone Maurice Adderley Lecture Series, a cherished tradition at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, recently featured Sarah Elizabeth Lewis as its esteemed speaker. The event, titled “Vision & Justice,” took place on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, in the MassArt Tower Auditorium. Lewis delivered a captivating lecture from 6:00 to 7:30 pm, followed by a reception in the Design and Media Center (DMC).

Sarah Elizabeth Lewis, the John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Humanities and Associate Professor of African and African American Studies at Harvard University, graced the stage to discuss “Vision & Justice: A Civic Curriculum.” This groundbreaking curriculum, a collaborative endeavor between Vision & Justice and Aperture, comprised 31 texts exploring a spectrum of topics, from civic space and memorials to the intricate intersections of race, technology, and justice.

Established in 1995, the Tyrone Maurice Adderley Lecture Series honors the memory of a remarkable MassArt student who left an indelible mark on the artistic community before his untimely passing. Adderley’s passion for art, coupled with his commitment to amplifying diverse voices, continues to inspire MassArt’s ethos of inclusivity and dialogue.

In conjunction with Lewis’s lecture, MassArt unveiled an exhibition showcasing Adderley’s own artwork, providing attendees with a retrospective glimpse into his creative journey. This initiative, spearheaded by the Fine Arts 2D department as part of MassArt’s 150th Anniversary celebrations, underscored Adderley’s enduring influence on the institution’s cultural fabric.

Sarah Elizabeth Lewis, acclaimed for her seminal works on visual representation, racial justice, and democracy in America, brought her expertise to bear on the discourse surrounding art’s transformative power. Her accolades, including the prestigious Freedom Scholar Award and designation as an Andrew Carnegie Fellow, attest to the profound impact of her scholarship.

The Fall 2023 Tyrone Maurice Adderley Lecture Series owed its success to the collaborative efforts of various departments, including the Office of Justice, Equity & Transformation, Academic Affairs, Center for Art & Community Partnerships, Photography, FA2D, and Institutional Advancement.