A stoneware vessel by David Drake is now on view at Hampton University Museum in Virginia, following its return to the artist's descendants by artist Theaster Gates. The museum is displaying the jar on loan through May 2027.
Drake, also known as "Dave the Potter," was an enslaved ceramic artist in South Carolina who made thousands of jars and inscribed many with his name and poetry. His work is recognized for its craftsmanship and the personal voice he embedded in the clay.
The return is part of the Drake family's effort to reclaim ownership of his surviving works while keeping them accessible to the public. Since 2025, the family has reached restitution agreements with five museums and two private collectors. Hampton's exhibition is the first time a historically Black college or university has presented one of Drake's jars, according to his descendant Yaba Baker, a Hampton alumnus.
By combining family stewardship with public display, the arrangement offers museums a way to broaden access while acknowledging the descendants' connection to the artist's work. Such partnerships may help shape more inclusive approaches to preserving and presenting cultural heritage.
