The University of Virginia's Fralin Museum of Art will showcase an extensive collection of Haitian art in its upcoming fall exhibition titled "Haiti's Time," set to open on August 30, 2025. This major exhibition is built around a significant donation of more than 100 works from collectors Beverly and John Fox Sullivan, marking the first public presentation of this remarkable gift since the museum received it earlier this year.

The exhibition will present 26 carefully selected works from the Sullivan collection, which is considered one of the world's foremost holdings of modern Haitian art. Visitors will experience a diverse range of artistic mediums including paintings, metalwork, assemblages, and drapo Vodou – ceremonial flags that hold deep spiritual and historical significance in Haitian culture. The show features works by some of Haiti's most celebrated artists, including Rigaud Benoit, Wilson Bigaud, Myrlande Constant, Hector Hyppolite, and Frantz Zéphirin.

"Haiti's Time" is thoughtfully organized around three central themes: Historical Time, Personal Time, and Sacred Time. This curatorial approach invites audiences to explore and understand Haiti through multiple lenses – its rich history, spiritual traditions, and the everyday experiences of its people. The exhibition aims to provide visitors with new perspectives on Haitian culture and artistry.

The exhibition is curated by Karen E. Milbourne, The Fralin's J. Sanford Miller Family Director, working in collaboration with Laurent Dubois, John L. Nau III Bicentennial Professor of the History and Principles of Democracy, and Ariel Ankrah, assistant curator at The Fralin. "We are especially pleased to showcase Haitian art from the Beverly and John Fox Sullivan gift and see our spaces transformed by Pélagie Gbaguidi and Finnegan Shannon," Milbourne explained. "We want to offer our visitors windows to other places and times, and opportunities to see the world we think we know anew."

John Fox Sullivan and the late Beverly Knight Sullivan were longtime collectors and passionate advocates of Haitian art. Their generous donation to the University of Virginia represents a landmark addition to the university's Caribbean and Africana studies resources. "I chose UVA because it is one of the most distinguished universities that is also committed to expanding its horizons and that of its students," Sullivan said earlier this year when discussing his decision to donate the collection to the university.

The Haitian art exhibition serves as the centerpiece of a broader slate of fall programming as the Fralin Museum celebrates its 90th anniversary. Two additional exhibitions will also open on August 30: "The World Between: Egypt and Nubia in Africa," which explores ancient cultural exchange across the Nile Valley, and "In Feeling: Empathy and Tension Through Disability," featuring contemporary artists who reframe lived experiences of disability.

Adding further depth to the fall programming is "Excavation and Knowledge," a large-scale installation by Pélagie Gbaguidi, recipient of Belgium's prestigious Ultima Prize for Art. Her work will create connections between Haiti, Brazil, Virginia, and West Africa as part of the museum's new Commission series, demonstrating the global interconnectedness of artistic and cultural traditions.

The Fralin Museum of Art, located in Charlottesville, Virginia, will host a media preview on August 25, followed by public access beginning August 30. The museum offers free admission to all visitors, making these significant cultural exhibitions accessible to the entire community and university population.