About Us

Slavery Trails is a musically interactive augmented reality (AR) installation series based on slave ships and enslaved people, placed on historical sites throughout the United States. Artist Marcus Brown created this series to virtually mark areas where enslaved people were held, sold, and worked in the United States. The interactive Augmented Reality (AR) sculpture series presents multiple exhibits that represent enslaved peoples using present day Black Americans. Brown's project begins with the placement of virtual sculptures in the exhibit Marcus Brown Slave Artist No. Series. The exhibit is only visible by smartphone or smart devices. The exhibit depicts the artist Marcus Brown as an enslaved person standing on the neutral ground or street median located on the corner of Chartres Street and Esplanade Avenue in New Orleans. This is the same median where Solomon Northup was sold as a slave over 180 years ago. Each of Brown’s self-portrait sculptures will be presented and digitally sold from his website for the modern-day price of a domestic slave from the 1840s. Brown’s goal is to use the proceeds from each sculpture sold to fund a national project that creates more markers around the country. 

Thank you from the artist!

Thank you to everyone who made the June 20th 2022 sculpture unveiling of the Slave Artist No. Exhibit possible. 

Special thanks to WWNO University of New Orleans 89.9FM, Marigny Opera House, www.nola.com, Laura Sirkin-Brown, Mona Duffel Jones, Dr. Marcus Rediker,  Dr. Marek Batorski, Andrew Bertholf, Ryan Groendyk , Glenn S. Gordinier, RJ Lavallee, Discovering Amistad, Mystic Seaport Muesum, Daniel W. McElmurray, Parks and parkways department of New Orleans and many others for your support!