A new photography exhibition spotlighting Overtown’s rich Black history has opened at the newly restored Lawson E. Thomas Building, offering the public a rare visual journey into one of Miami’s most influential communities.
Timed to coincide with Black History Month, Sepia Vernacular: Overtown’s Photographic Journey, 1920–1950 is presented by the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency (SEOPW CRA) in partnership with the City of Miami Planning Department’s Public Art Division. The exhibition draws from the Planning Department’s archives and features more than 80 historic photographs documenting everyday life in Overtown during the early to mid-20th century.
Among the highlights are images from photographer Max Waldman’s 1947 Color Town series, which capture the neighborhood’s streets, families, businesses, and social life. Together, the photographs offer an intimate look at a community that played a central role in shaping Miami’s cultural identity but has often been overlooked in mainstream historical narratives.
The exhibition is housed in the Lawson E. Thomas Building at 1021 NW 2nd Avenue, a site of major historical significance. The building once served as the office of Judge Lawson E. Thomas, Miami-Dade County’s first Black judge and a prominent civil rights leader. Recently restored by the SEOPW CRA, the space has retained its architectural character while being updated to ensure accessibility and long-term preservation.
Adding to the experience is an interactive mural by artist Anthony “Mojo” Reed II titled Veo Veo, I See I See, Mwen wè Mwen wè. Commissioned by the Miami Museum of Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora (Miami MoCAAD), the mural honors Judge Thomas and Overtown’s civil rights legacy. Embedded QR codes link visitors to oral histories, connecting the photographic archive to living memory and contemporary storytelling.
Sepia Vernacular is the first major exhibition to open in the revitalized Lawson E. Thomas Building, marking a new phase in the site’s role as a cultural and educational space.
“Black History Month is about honoring legacy while creating space for reflection and connection,” said Natalya Sangster, Director of Operations at the SEOPW CRA. “Presenting these photographs in Judge Thomas’s former office—once a hub of civil rights advocacy—underscores how history, place, and identity are inseparable.”
Judge Lawson E. Thomas was instrumental in challenging racial inequality in Miami, from advocating for equal pay for Black teachers to organizing the city’s first “wade-in” protest at Virginia Key. Hosting the exhibition in the building that bears his name, organizers say, is both symbolic and restorative.
The exhibition is open Thursday and Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guided tours are available by appointment through [email protected].
