James Britt
Saturday, November 28, 2026 - Sunday, December 20, 2026
Opening Reception: Friday, December 5, 2026 6-10pm
Opening Reception: Friday, December 5th | 6pm-10pm
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
This Side Up offers a contemporary perspective on Henry "Box" Brown's life beyond his celebrated escape from slavery. On March 30, 1849, Brown mailed himself from Richmond, Virginia to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania crouched inside of a 3 x 2.6 x 2 ft wooden crate for approximately 27 hours. While this daring act has inspired generations of artists, his career as a performer and personal journey after gaining freedom are just as pivotal. Together, they are a reflection of the American myth and the innate desire for autonomy.
Brown sought liberation through the various performances he produced. Initially derived from that singular spectacular feat, they morphed into the metaphysical arts, including séances, hypnotism, and magic. He served as a shaman for predominantly white audiences intrigued by his personal narrative. To enhance the experience, he commissioned a 50,000 ft moving panorama detailing the Black experience in the United States. Brown’s ability to “package” himself for public consumption across various mediums established him as a preeminent social influencer of his time.
Reinventing oneself is a core tenant of American identity. Central to my research was understanding Brown's relationship with this process: was it driven by financial gain, international acclaim, escape from enslavement, or simply the freedom to live as he desired? His playful appropriation of the box was a brilliant commentary on the commodification of Black people under chattel slavery, appropriating an unconventional apparatus to hatch his plan and subsequently as a prop in his performances.
I initially considered “Box Brown” as an alter ego, but shifted my interpretation as I delved deeper into this enigmatic figure’s life. Enslavement required Henry Brown to engage in perpetual theatrics for survival, whereas "Box Brown" the showman could maneuver more fluidly, living outside of the boxes he was confined to.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
James Britt is a Philadelphia-based visual artist and Curator of Exhibitions & Programs at TILT Institute for the Contemporary Image. Britt holds a B.A. in Sociology and African American/African Studies from the University of Virginia, a M.Ed. in Counseling Education from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a M.F.A. in Art Theory & Practice from Northwestern University. In 2025, he was the inaugural Innovation Artist Fellow at the Library Company of Philadelphia, where he conducted research for This Side Up. Their resources and support were critical to bringing this project to fruition. Thank you to the entire Library Company of Philadelphia staff and specifically to Max Moeller - Head of Reader Services & Fellowships, Erika Piola - Curator of Graphic Arts & Director of the Visual Culture Program, and Sarah Weatherwax - Senior Curator of Graphic Arts Emerita. Art making is a collective process. Special shout-outs to my collaborators: Camille Acker, Blanche Brown, Melissa Langer, Danielle Morris, and Lea Devon Sorrentino.
