The Liberated African Advisory Committee (LAAC) has launched “The Portrait Gallery- Stories of the Face,” an exhibition marking the third anniversary of the reburial of Liberated Africans at Rupert’s Valley. The exhibition opened on August 2, 2025, and is a collaborative effort involving Assistant Professor Andreana Cunningham from Boston University, the Museum of St Helena, and the St Helena National Trust. The St Helena Tourist Office also supported the project.
The exhibition presents portraits of three individuals from the Rupert’s Valley burial ground. These works were created by artists with Saint or Saint-descended backgrounds in partnership with a bioarchaeologist. The process combined scientific facial reconstruction methods with artistic interpretation to represent what these individuals may have looked like.
The goal of the exhibition is to use both science and art to help visitors connect with and remember those who were buried at Rupert’s Valley. By reconstructing faces through this interdisciplinary approach, organizers hope to provide a more personal understanding of history.
Helena Bennett, Director of the St Helena National Trust and Chairperson of LAAC, said:
“This exhibition is a testament to the collaborative spirit of St Helena and our shared commitment to preserving our history. By blending art and science, we are able to connect with these individuals on a deeply human level by giving them an identity and ensuring their stories are told.”
The Portrait Gallery will be open at the Museum of St Helena in Jamestown until August 30, 2025. Organizers describe it as part of ongoing efforts to honor the legacy of Liberated Africans on St Helena.