Layers of history and time are a constant in the work of Marjorie Guyon. Her compositions create an archeology of the soul. Born in NYC, Guyon graduated with a degree in poetry from Hampshire College and moved to Lexington, Kentucky to become a nationally known artist. Her 2nd floor studio was downtown, perched on top of a hidden history, the site of the largest auction of enslaved Africans west of the Allegheny Mountains.
The I Was Here Project began in November of 2016 when Guyon had a vision of an African mother and child moving like points of light across the windows of the Historic Courthouse. From that vision, an emblematic series of Ancestor Spirit Portraits was created.
Since its founding in 2016, the project has become a nationally recognized public art and education initiative. In 2023, Ancestor Spirit Portraits rose 200 feet on the Podium at One World Trade Center. That same year, the project was featured at the Octagon Museum in Washington, D.C. and launched a major immersive installation at MAD Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. These milestones reflect the project's power to transform public space through a synthesis of the arts and technology. The project is an invitation to bring a new understanding to nation building.
269 West Main Street, Suite 200, Lexington, KY 40507
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.