The Department of Art History welcomed Fred Kuwornu, Italian director and writer for the Houston premiere of his newest project. We Were Here unveiled the untold history of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe through iconic artworks. This multilingual film, shot across Europe, challenged the notion that all Blacks were slaves or servants. It revealed a diverse presence, including princes, ambassadors, merchants, and religious figures. Narrated from an Afro-European perspective, it explored stories absent from traditional history books. The film interweaved art history with social narratives, offering a fresh lens on European Renaissance and the complex tapestry of Black presence often overlooked in conventional historical accounts.
The film was acclaimed at the 60th International Art Exhibition la Biennale Venezia (2024), selected for the Central Pavilion curated by Adriano Pedrosa, and was in Oscar® consideration for Best Documentary Feature (98TH ACADEMY AWARDS, 2026). Following the screening, Associate Professor Denva Gallant hosted a collaborative Q&A with Fred that asked audience members their honest reactions to the film.
It was a brilliant and fresh look into an otherwise undiscovered piece of history. In celebration of Black History Month, the department opened up the screening to the greater Houston community, with many movie-goers stating that while this was their first time at Rice, it certainly will not be their last.