Opening Reception: The Politics of Joy
Saturday, March 21 at 5:30 PM — 7:00 PM
An Exhibition by Artists Susan Ragland and Nina Grier of Historical Dream
Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, wine, and a chance to meet artists Susan Ragland and Nina Grier in person. Free and open to all.
The exhibition continues through May 10, 2026 and is viewable on Sunday mornings and by appointment.
About Susan Ragland
Susan Ragland is a self-taught artist whose focus has been to unwaveringly create joyful images of Black people affirming their human connections. Amidst bursts of color and intricate designs, her paintings seek to examine the humanity of Black subjects while paradoxically depicting the ordinary: African Americans as regular folk, sans the presence of historical trauma. Her work aims to imbue majestic feelings in viewers who have experienced a questioning of their being and beckon others to identify universally-shared Joy.
She has had a 30-year career creating and selling art largely outside of the conventional art circuits. Through private exhibits and by word of mouth, her art has found its way into the permanent acquisitions of major art collectors throughout the U.S. including the Colored Girls’ Museum; a long-time host of ABC’s The View; professional athletes; George Washington University, Temple University; various on-air news pundits, and in the homes of regular folks.
(Bio courtesy of Philadelphia Mural Arts, where Ragland was a 2024–2025 Black Artist Fellow.)
About Nina Grier & Historical Dream
After a successful career in the healthcare industry and a re-settlement to her native town of Philadelphia, Nina Grier wanted to make a difference locally and nationally. In 2015, she founded Historical Dream, an entity designed to show an appreciation of diverse cultural leaders throughout history who’ve helped shape the country and the world’s shared progressive interests.
Historical Dream has distinguished itself by showcasing famous characters including Lucretia Mott, Frederick Douglass, and Harriet Tubman, as well as lesser-known figures such as Wong Chin Foo, who advocated for the rights of the Chinese during the 19th century, and Chief Sitting Bull.
“In our minds, it’s like an emblematic olive branch that reaches across the past to bridge a present and future America,” says Ms. Grier.
(Bio courtesy of historicaldream.com)