AMERICAN PEOPLE, BLACK LIGHT:
FAITH RINGGOLD'S PAINTINGS OF THE 1960s
September 11-December 19, 2010
Today, Faith Ringgold is well known as the progenitor of the African American story quilt revival that began in the late 1970s.
The once influential paintings she created during the previous decade, with only a few notable exceptions, disappeared from view, omitted from critical, art historical discourse for more than forty years.
On the occasion of Ringgold’s 80th birthday, the Neuberger Museum of Art has organized the first comprehensive survey of these paintings.
The exhibition will include the landmark series American People (1963-1967) and Black Light (1967-1971), along with related murals and political posters.
Taken together, these works represent an unprecedented artistic exploration of the intersections of race, gender and class, made in direct response to the social upheavals of the 1960s.
Exhibition support has been provided by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Support for educational programs associated with this exhibition has been provided by the JP Morgan Chase Foundation.
American People, Black Light will be accompanied by a fully illustrated color catalogue.
The exhibition is curated by former Neuberger Museum Director Thom Collins and Neuberger Museum Curator and Purchase College Assistant Professor Tracy Fitzpatrick, with students from the Spring 2010 Purchase College Art History department’s Exhibition Seminar.
Top:
Faith Ringgold
American People Series #18: The Flag Is Bleeding, 1967
Oil on canvas, 72 x 96 inches
Collection of the artist
© Faith Ringgold, Courtesy ACA Galleries, New York
Bottom:
Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times/Redux
Faith Ringgold at her studio with works from the 1960’s
that will be part of American People, Black Light.
