This research traces the history of Agustín Cárdenas’s sculpture Antillean Couple from Cuba and Paris to the University of Pennsylvania. By examining galleries, collectors, auctions, and institutional acquisitions, it demonstrates how private networks shape artistic value and how public art can illuminate transnational histories, postcolonial identity, and cultural circulation.

This research explores how Jamaican patois shapes Toronto slang and identity. Through surveys and interviews, it shows that patois influences everyday speech across diverse communities. Far from trivial slang, it fosters belonging, reflects cultural history, and strengthens social ties, highlighting language as a dynamic, unifying force within the Greater Toronto Area.

This talk explores African pianism, a fusion of African musical traditions and Western classical piano. Tracing its origins and development, it highlights its cultural significance and growing presence in the United States. The research argues that institutional contexts shape its reception and advocates for its inclusion to diversify and enrich classical music.