Oluseye’s sculpture is a public expression of his research into Afro-diasporic narratives and was commissioned for the overlook of the new Don River mouth.

The work draws inspiration from Ontario’s connection to the Underground Railroad— the network of routes through which enslaved African Americans sought freedom. Waterways, including rivers and canals connecting the Great Lakes, formed vital passages within this system, with southern Ontario being an important destination for freedom seekers in the nineteenth century.

The sculpture also references escape maps sometimes concealed within the braided hairstyles of enslaved women. The title refers to the CROWN Act (“Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair”), a U.S. law that prohibits race-based hair discrimination.

Carved in sustainable wood, Crown Act transforms a braided hair pattern into a large-scale playful labyrinth that is designed for visitors to walk through and convene within. At the center, a cowrie shell emerges, symbolizing arrival, safety, and liberation.

3D Design and Modelling by Odudu Umoessien