A Constellation
Jack Whitten
Psychic Intersection, 1979–80
Acrylic on canvas
42 × 42 × 1 1/2 in.
The Studio Museum in Harlem, Gift of Ruth Bocour in memorium of Leonard Bocour
Photo: Marc Bernier
Betye Saar
Window of Ancient Sirens, 1979
Assemblage 14 3/4 × 24 3/4 in.
The Studio Museum in Harlem, Gift of Wynn and Sally Kramarsky, New York
Photo: Marc Bernier
Tschabalala Self
Bodega Run, 2015
Oil, pigment and flasche on canvas
44 × 30 in.
Courtesy the artist and Thierry Goldberg Gallery, New York
Tony Lewis
Make His Mouth Bigger, Angrier, 2015
Graphite powder and correction tape on paper
2 3/4 × 2 3/8 in.
Courtesy Shane Campbell Gallery, Chicago, IL
Elizabeth Catlett
Mother and Child, 1993
Mahogany
67 1/2 × 16 1/2 × 15 1/2 in.
Museum Purchase
Billie Zangewa
Mother and Child, 2015
Silk tapestry
Approximately 51 × 54 in.
Courtesy Afronova, Johannesburg, South Africa
Photo: Courtesy the artist
Nov 12, 2015—Mar 6, 2016
A Constellation traces connections among twenty-six artists of African descent: eight who emerged in the mid- to late twentieth century, and who are represented in the exhibition by works from the Studio Museum’s permanent collection, and eighteen younger artists whose works are being shown at the Studio Museum for the first time. The works in the Museum’s collection serve as material and conceptual anchors exploring themes of the figure, formal abstraction, economy, African diasporic history and materiality. The newer works expand on these themes and prompt an intergenerational dialogue in visual space. The artists in the exhibition embrace a broad range of conceptual approaches. Some employ making as a form of politics, others explore how race and cultural production affect aesthetics, while still others combine these methods or create their own. Together the works function as a “constellation,” both as a metaphor for stars that form a pattern, and as a representation of a gathering of dynamic, kindred artists. As suggested by the title, the connections drawn here present just one possible combination among an infinite variety of configurations.
Artists in A Constellation:
ruby onyinyechi amanze
Elizabeth Catlett
Torkwase Dyson
Melvin Edwards
Nona Faustine
Aaron Fowler
David Hammons
Ayana V. Jackson
Tony Lewis
Al Loving
Hugo McCloud
Troy Michie
Sondra Perry
Julia Phillips
Adrian Piper
Faith Ringgold
Andy Robert
Andrew Ross
Cameron Rowland
Betye Saar
Tschabalala Self
Talwst
Torey Thornton
Jack Whitten
Kandis Williams
Billie Zangewa
A Constellation is organized by Amanda Hunt, Assistant Curator.