Gordon Shadrach's painting Trade, which is held in the permanent collection of the Art Gallery of Hamilton, was recently featured in the Globe and Mail as part of their "Made in Canada" section.
As explained in the feature:
"Gordon Shadrach's painting critiques the exploitation of Black bodies throughout Canadian history and the contemporary sports industry. Framed in antique gold and dressed as a British Redcoat, the subject resembles a historical portrait, but the basketball jersey demands inquiry. In 1782, as many as 5,000 enslaved people fought for the British with promises of freedom and land in Canada. Broken promises and unfulfilled contracts underpin a history that is rarely acknowledged."
October 2, 2026
