Aren’t there times when you wished you lived in New York City? I wish I were there now to see the Faith Ringgold retrospective at the New Museum. It is the first comprehensive US retrospective of her work, beginning with her very political paintings from the sixties. The treatment of Blacks in the US has always been a central theme, and so has the status of women in general. The large painting above, first made for the Correctional Institute for Women at Rikers Island and now at the Brooklyn Museum, shows her interest in women of all ages, races, and professions.
A large part of Ringgold’s career has been as a textile artist. She began making art quilts with her fashion designer mother, Willi Posey, and continued long after Posey’s death. Her textile work includes quilts, soft sculptures, and installations with original textile designs. All of these are part of the installation depicted above.
And you might say that Ringgold is a work of art herself.
Read the write up of the exhibit in the New York Times. And if you are anywhere near New York City until early June, perhaps you can take a look yourself. I’d love to hear about it!
Thanks for featuring Faith Ringgold in your post, Lynn. Her work is extraordinary.