Sovereignty and Democracy at 250: Imagining an Archipelago at the Colby Museum

Imagining an Archipelago: Art from Cuba, Guam, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Their Diasporas will present contemporary artworks related to these islands’ intertwined histories of occupation and colonization by both Spain and the United States. Opening in July 2026, this exhibition constitutes the Colby College Museum of Art’s contribution to the marking of our nation’s 250th anniversary. Artworks will consider the legacies of U.S. imperialism across generations between the Atlantic and the Pacific, offering a platform for solidarity and connection for artists and island communities at home and in diaspora, in ways that are equally poignant, healing, and joyful.

The exhibition’s primary historical touchpoint is the late nineteenth century, when independence movements against Spanish colonization were separately gaining momentum on these islands. Following the Spanish American war of 1898, the U.S. occupied Cuba and exerted colonial control over Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico. This overseas territorial expansion fulfilled U.S. ambitions and began to solidify the nation’s status as a world power.

To commemorate the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, Imagining an Archipelago will present an opportunity to reflect upon sovereignty and democracy, the concepts that gave birth to the American enterprise 250 years ago.