Acclaimed artist LaToya Ruby Frazier has been around the world but was particularly struck by Baltimore – its people, culture, unique challenges and resilience.
Frazier’s research and observations of community health workers (CHWs) in Baltimore during the COVID-19 pandemic inspired one of her most powerful and evocative art installations, which is entitled “More Than Conquerors: A Monument for Community Health Workers of Baltimore, Maryland 2021-2022.”
More Than Conquerors alludes to a biblical verse in Romans 8:37 while paying homage to the character and courage of medical professionals on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19. Deeply evocative and insightful, the art exhibit features a series of portraits and related narratives mounted on 18 socially distanced, stainless-steel IV poles that celebrate community health workers in Baltimore during the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.
According to the research of Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) officials, CHWs have served as an essential resource to underserved communities since the 1970s, assisting individuals in overcoming challenges to healthcare access. CHWs served a critical role during the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, sharing information and encouraging acceptance of the treatment while providing access and support.
“You will see that this monument (art installation) is a monument of triumph,” Frazier said during an event hosted by BMA that previewed the exhibit. “It’s a story of power and triumph.”
The More Than Conquerors preview event, held on Oct. 28, 2024, drew a small crowd consisting of BMA staff, arts community supporters and United Way staff.
BMA director Asma Naeem opened the afternoon with remarks before giving way to Frazier, who spoke at length about the background and inspiration for the art exhibit.
“We are thrilled to launch the exhibition portion of ‘Turn Again to the Earth’ with the presentation of LaToya Ruby Frazier’s compelling and deeply resonant installation More Than Conquerors,” Naeem said.
“The presentation is a singular opportunity to honor some of Baltimore’s most important and under-sung heroes in our museum and to consider the complex relationships between environment, health and social inequities.”
Frazier named some of the individuals included in the artwork, described the arrangement of the art and its profound significance, and reflected on the adverse impact of COVID-19 on minority communities while sharing personal experiences that somewhat laid the groundwork for More Than Conquerors.
CHWs are characterized as unsung heroes of the pandemic, and their pivotal contributions in Baltimore are only a microcosm to their importance to communities in numerous cities across the nation and beyond. Holding titles such as community health advisers, lay health advocates, outreach educators, health aides and peer health promoters – the daily efforts of CHWs, especially during the pandemic, were necessary to ensure medical justice and healthcare equity.
Frazier connected with Tiffany Scott, co-founder and chair of the Maryland Community Health Worker Association, and a group of CHWs actively involved in vaccination efforts between 2020 and 2021, thanks to the support of Johns Hopkins University educators and medical practitioners.
More Than Conquerors reveals local community health workers’ portraits, stories and voices, “creating a poignant monument to their tireless efforts and recognizing their invaluable contributions to the lives of countless people and the health of many communities.” These soul-stirring stories are illustrated on each of the 18 socially distanced, stainless-steel IV poles currently standing in BMA’s Sadie A. May Wing.
“Even though there are 18 IV pole stands, everything is actually integrated in terms of their (CHWs) stories, their memories, their experiences, how they got their start, who trained who, who was inspired by who, who’s had losses with whom. So, you realize it is a real interconnected network,” said Frazier, also an award-winning author.
Frazier’s art and scholarship intersect collaborative storytelling with social justice movements, cultural change, and the American experience through a wide range of media, including photography, video, performance, installation and books.
“My work truly is about cutting through visually [regarding] class, representing peoples’ rights, human rights, workers’ rights. My work is very much about civic engagement, it is about American democracy, it is about empowering people and meeting them exactly where they are,” she said.
The Baltimore Museum of Art acquired “More Than Conquerors: A Monument for Community Health Workers of Baltimore, Maryland 2021-2022” in spring 2023. With the generous support of the Glenstone Museum, its presentation is now underway, marking the first time that it is on view at BMA and in Baltimore.
Open from November 3 through March 23, 2025, the More Than Conquerors installation is part of “Turn Again to the Earth,” a series of initiatives unfolding at the BMA focused on modeling commitments to sustainability and fostering dialogue about environmental issues.
Following the More Than Conquerors preview event, attendees toured the exhibit and conversed with Frazier.