This body of work casts Cox as the real-world historical figure Queen Nanny, who led the Jamaican Maroons in their fight for freedom against British colonial powers in the early 18th century. Today Nanny remains an icon of self-determination and hope against seemingly impossible odds.

“Cox’s depictions of Nanny in various staged tableaus draw attention to the multifaceted nature of this little-known female figure and remind viewers of the legacy of black women as soldiers and partners alongside men in the fight for racial freedom in centuries past and present,” said curator Kimberli Gant of the series.