Join Carlee S. Forbes as she talks about Ex-Change, an exhibition exploring how artists around the world have reused coins, counters, and tokens in a range of objects in the Fowler Museum’s collection. Forbes will reflect on the layered meanings these minted metals carry—from their spiritual and symbolic power to their roles as markers of wealth, beauty, and global trade. Her presentation will consider how these small but potent pieces have moved through histories, cultures, and creative practices.

Carlee S. Forbes is associate curator of African and Oceanic art at the Baltimore Museum of Art. She received her Ph.D. in Art History from UNC-Chapel Hill and was previously part of the Mellon-funded research team at the Fowler Museum. Her work focuses on the intersections of material culture, colonial histories, and museum collections.

Image credit: Unidentified artist(s); tuo (ceremonial container), mid-20th century; Kanuri, Nigeria; vegetable fiber, cowrie shells, foil, coins; Fowler Museum at UCLA, X86.2618; Gift of Jim and Jeanne Pieper