Revolution: Boston Public Library unveils landmark art exhibit tracing social change
From Paul Revere to present-day commentary, BPL’s new exhibit connects the past to modern movements
A RARE OPPORTUNITY INSIDE THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY. REVOLUTION 250 YEARS OF ART AND ACTIVISM IN BOSTON IS THE FIRST EXHIBIT AT THE BPL IN NEARLY A DECADE. WE MOVED THROUGH THE IDEA OF REVOLUTION, HOW THAT CONTINUED OVER THE YEARS, MOVING INTO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT TO THE PRESENT DAY, SELECTING WHAT TO DISPLAY WAS NO EASY FEAT, SAYS KRISTEN PARKER. SHE’S LEAD CURATOR FOR THE ARTS AT THE LIBRARY. THE ARTS COLLECTION CONTAINS OVER A MILLION PRINTS, DRAWINGS, PHOTOGRAPHS, SCULPTURE, PAINTINGS, MORE THAN 100 WORKS ARE ON VIEW AT THIS FREE EXHIBIT. HERE WE HAVE A PHOTOGRAPH BY JULIE WELCH, WHO WAS THE FIRST FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHER FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE AND FOR THE BOSTON HERALD TRAVELER. THIS PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS WOMEN TAKING OVER AN ABANDONED BUILDING AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY, AND THEY MANAGED TO CREATE THE FIRST WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTER IN AMERICA, WHICH STILL LASTS TO THIS DAY. FAMOUS WORKS ARE ALSO PART OF THE INSTALLATION. A 1770 ENGRAVING OF THE BOSTON MASSACRE BY PAUL REVERE, A 1799 PORTRAIT OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. THIS IS A LITHOGRAPH OF THE BOSTON MASSACRE BY WILLIAM CHAMPNEY. HE WAS MADE IN 1856. THEY’RE PUTTING CRISPUS ATTUCKS, WHO WAS THE FIRST PERSON THAT WAS KILLED IN THE BOSTON MASSACRE, AND A PERSON OF AFRICAN AND WAMPANOAG DESCENT, HIGHLIGHTING HIM DURING THE ERA OF THE CIVIL WAR. MORE RECENT WORKS TELL STORIES OF BOSTON DURING THE BUSSING CRISIS IN THE 1970S AND 80. PRESENT DAY TURMOIL IS ALSO REPRESENTED. TAYLOR DAVIS IS A BOSTON AREA musician. SHE TURNS THE AMERICAN FLAG INTO THE DISTRESS SIGNAL, SO IT’S UPSIDE DOWN. AND IN IT, SHE’S SPEAKING ABOUT THE IMPACT OF FAMILY SEPARATION. THROUGH THIS EXHIBIT, THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY IS SHOWCASING A LEGACY OF CHANGE MADE IN COMMON. NOT ALONE, SAYS PARKER. WE’VE BEEN A CITY THAT IS CREATIVE, THAT HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER CAN MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN FOR THE SOCIAL GOOD. I WANT PEOPLE TO HOPEFULLY LEAVE INSPIRED AND FEEL BRAVE AND THAT THEY’RE COMMITTED TO THE LEGACY THAT’S BEEN HERE
Revolution: Boston Public Library unveils landmark art exhibit tracing social change
From Paul Revere to present-day commentary, BPL’s new exhibit connects the past to modern movements
Updated: 8:07 PM EST Nov 19, 2025
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The Boston Public Library is showcasing “Revolution 250 Years of Art and Activism in Boston,” featuring more than 100 works that highlight the city’s legacy of change. Kristin Parker, lead curator for the arts at the library, said, “We move through the idea of revolution, how that continued over the years moving into the Civil Rights Movement to the present day.” Revolution! 250 Years of Art & Activism in Boston | Boston Public Library
The Boston Public Library is showcasing “Revolution 250 Years of Art and Activism in Boston,” featuring more than 100 works that highlight the city’s legacy of change. Kristin Parker, lead curator for the arts at the library, said, “We move through the idea of revolution, how that continued over the years moving into the Civil Rights Movement to the present day.” Revolution! 250 Years of Art & Activism in Boston | Boston Public Library
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