Yinka Shonibare: Sanctuary

Yinka Shonibare: Sanctuary presents the U.S. debut of *Sanctuary City* (2024), an installation by British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare. The work consists of 18 scaled-down replicas of historical and contemporary buildings that have provided refuge to persecuted or vulnerable people over the centuries.

In a darkened gallery, each black-painted miniature building glows from within. Its interior is lined with Shonibare’s distinctive Dutch wax textiles, turning the installation into a constellation of illuminated sanctuaries. The exhibition considers shelter as both a universal human need and a political condition, asking who is allowed safety, who is excluded, and what responsibilities societies have toward people seeking refuge amid global displacement, nationalism, and humanitarian crisis. It draws on Shonibare’s engagement with colonial history, migration, and cultural hybridity, tracing the idea of sanctuary from ancient temples to modern safe houses.

When: February 11, 2026–January 3, 2027

Schedule: On view during the Rose Art Museum’s visiting hours; no event-specific showtimes are listed.

Venue: Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University

Artist: Yinka Shonibare CBE, born in 1962 in London, United Kingdom

Featured Work: *Sanctuary City* (2024), an installation of 18 miniature buildings made with wood, paint, Dutch wax printed cotton textile, and LED lights

Tickets: Price not available

Organizer: The exhibition is organized by Dr. Gannit Ankori, Henry and Lois Foster Director and Chief Curator of the Rose Art Museum and Professor of Fine Arts and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Brandeis University.

Experience: Visitors can use the free Rose Art Museum app, available through the App Store or as a web-based version, for self-guided tours and additional information.