American People, Black Light
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Faith Ringgold, Early Works #25, Self-Portrait (detail), 1965; -
Faith Ringgold, American People Series #18: The Flag is Bleeding (detail); -
Faith Ringgold, Black Light Series #1: Big Black (detail);
American People, Black Light: Faith Ringgold’s Paintings of the 1960s on view June 21–November 10, 2013.
Faith Ringgold (b. 1930) is well known for originating the African American story quilt revival in the late 1970s. In the previous decade, she created bold, provocative paintings in direct response to the Civil Rights and feminist movements. Ringgold’s unprecedented exploration of race and gender in America is examined in this comprehensive survey of 49 rarely-exhibited paintings.
In 1963, Ringgold began work on a series of 20 paintings entitled American People. Rendered in a style that synthesizes post-cubist Picasso, pop art, and traditional African sculpture, these paintings present subjects who are black and white, male and female, and rich and poor. Grouped closely together, the figures reflect the tension arising from interracial contact that Ringgold observed and felt directly.
The exhibition also includes Ringgold’s Black Light paintings made between 1967 and 1969. A number of these canvases feature mask-like faces that reflect Ringgold’s interest in African art and design. Painted in nuanced shades of black, the works are expressive of Ringgold’s engagement with the broader “black is beautiful” movement. In other works from this series, Ringgold painted words inside geometric fields of color. These bold compositions refer to events that shaped the late 1960s, including race riots and the manned Apollo missions to the moon.
Related Programs
- July 16, 7–9 p.m.: Panel Discussion: Town Hall on Artistry, Creativity, and Civil Rights
- July 24, 12–12:30 p.m.: Gallery Talk
- July 24, 7–9:15 p.m.: Film: Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment
- August 7, 12–12:30 p.m.: Gallery Talk
- August 28, 12–12:30 p.m.: Gallery Talk
- September 4, 12–12:30 p.m.: Gallery Talk
- September 18, 12–12:30 p.m.: Gallery Talk
- September 23, 4:30–7:30 p.m.: Teacher Workshop: Faith Ringgold—Art and Activism
- October 2, 12–12:30 p.m.: Gallery Talk
- October 28, 7–8:30 p.m.: Artist Lecture: Faith Ringgold: More Than 50 Years
- November 6, 12–12:30 p.m.: Gallery Talk
Related Blog Posts
- Dominating with Depth: Faith Ringgold
- Faith Ringgold Captures the “Long Road” Ahead for Women
- History of Violence: Faith Ringgold Documents an American Past
- Audrey Niffenegger and Faith Ringgold (Part 2 of 2): Shock Value
- Audrey Niffenegger and Faith Ringgold (Part 1 of 2): Sending Messages
- Faith Ringgold as the Messenger: Now and Then
- “Hey, Soul Sister”
- Exploring Faith Ringgold’s “American People” on July Fourth
Related Resources
American People, Black Light: Faith Ringgold’s Paintings of the 1960s is organized by the Neuberger Museum of Art. The exhibition is sponsored by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and the JPMorgan Chase Foundation. Its presentation at NMWA is made possible by Northern Trust and Share Fund. Additional funding is provided by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, and the members of NMWA.
