David Drake was a slave in Edgefield, South Carolina, where he lived on a plantation amongst 76 other enslaved men and women. His owner, Harvey Drake, was a potter, and David had vision. He started producing stoneware jugs in 1820s and kept at it until his death, in the 1870s. Few details are known about the masterful artist. He was literate poet– a punishable offence after South Carolina’s Negro Act of 1740, which prohibited teaching enslaved Africans to read and write. According to multiple sources, Drake also had a missing leg, probably a consequence of a violent beating. Despite his arduous life, the potter’s work has endured through centuries. In this show, black potters like David from the 19th century are the focus. Fifty ceramic objects from the Old Edgefield district are paired with contemporary responses by the likes of Theaster Gates and Simone Leigh. —Elena Clavarino