Museums house large collections, yet only approximately 2.1 per cent of them are on display to the public. The Great Unseen brings rarely viewed pieces from the McMaster Museum of Art’s collection to the forefront, transforming absence into opportunity.

The exhibition, curated from a personal Caribbean heritage and diasporic perspective, focuses on Black, Caribbean, and diasporic artists—communities that have historically been excluded from dominant art historical paradigms. It includes seldom seen artworks from the Museum’s vaults, recent acquisitions by Black artists, and new pieces by invited contemporary Black artists who are not yet part of the collection.

These works together challenge representational gaps and investigate how institutions influence our perceptions of identity, cultural value, and visibility. They reflect lived experience, material innovation, and powerful expressions of presence and resistance.

The Great Unseen represents an evolving curatorial approach and commitment at the McMaster Museum of Art that prioritizes equity, inclusivity, and cultural awareness. Visitors are invited to engage with the collection in new ways through recognition, rediscovery, and the transforming power of visibility.

Artists in the collection:

Karel Appel, Elvira Bach, Radcliffe Bailey, Peter Blake, June Clark, Henry Cliffe, Erika Defreitas, André Derain, Kareem-Anthony Ferreira, Eric Freifeld, Sergio Gonzalez-Tornero, Aaron Jones, Tadashi Kawamata, James Ritchie, Jack Shadbolt, Richard Tompson, Hilda Woolnough

Invited Artists: Delali Cofie, Kwame Delfish, Janice Reid

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