Ekua Holmes: A Place to Grow

On view October 15, 2025 – January 24, 2026

In 2022 Roxbury-based artist Ekua Holmes created a mural for the Boston Athenaeum’s children’s library. On view in the alcove gallery are the original collages from this commission. Inspired by the Athenaeum’s historic and contemporary collection, Holmes’s collages show the dynamic and colorful lives of Boston’s children, surrounded by the skyline, neighborhood spaces, and the Charles River. Holmes creates her distinctive artistic language through layering diverse materials such as historic maps, newsprint, pages of books, and even a ticketstub. With a deep sensitivity to the interior worlds of children, Holmes portrays them engaged in moments of joy and focus—reading, studying, running, biking, and jumping rope.

Long inspired by the work of Allan Rohan Crite–a friend of the artist–Holmes’s work reveals a similar dedication to visual storytelling. Her collages express the multi-dimensional lives and close-knit communities of children through the literal layering of cut paper, crafting a vibrant and textured world that honors the everyday experiences of Boston’s youth.