Remembering Miami's Matriarchs

Set at the historic Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on Key Biscayne—site of the Saltwater Underground Railroad—artist and architect Cornelius Tulloch unveiled his commissioned work Remembering Miami’s Matriarchs.

With each silkscreen print hand-embellished with oil pastel drawings, Cornelius presented a layered collage of photographs captured in the Everglades, Jamaica, and of his mother in South Florida. This work, and Cornelius’s broader practice, connects the landscape to our personal and collective histories. It considers the food we eat, the traditions we carry, and, for this special project, the women and ancestors creating a path forward rooted in community care.

For so many reasons, gathering at Key Biscayne held a special significance. We grounded ourselves in the history of the place, gathering for a Diasporic dinner by the water at sunset.

Special thanks to Artists in Residence in Everglades (AIRIE) for the care and support, and to Say Sukii Flowers for the ultimate arrangement. Big love to Reina Gonzalez at The Cleat; and to Commissioner’s dedicated onsite event team — Gregory Pierre-Louis, Claudia Des Rosiers, Natalia Duran, and Veronica Gort. Photos by Chantal Lawrie.

Remembering Miami's Matriarchs (2025), 11 x 14 inches, oil pastels and silk screen ink on paper. Each print is hand embellished with oil pastel drawings. Detail