Brooklyn Museum Marks 9/11 Anniversary with Michael Richards Sculpture
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the Brooklyn Museum is showcasing "Free F'All," the sole artwork by Michael Richards, in its lobby. Richards, a 38-year-old Caribbean-American artist, was working on the 92nd floor of the North Tower when the attacks occurred, and tragically, he was among those who did not survive. The sculpture, created from fiberglass and adorned with rust oxide, depicts a Black aviator with closed eyes and bound arms, equipped with a parachute and aviator cap. Curator Kimberli Gant highlighted the enduring significance of Richards's work, bridging themes of aviation and Black liberation.
Key facts
- Michael Richards was a 38-year-old Caribbean-American artist.
- He was in his studio on the 92nd floor of the World Trade Center's North Tower during the September 11 attacks.
- No survivors were found above the 91st floor, and his remains were never recovered.
- The Brooklyn Museum has installed "Free F'All" (1997) in its lobby for the 25th anniversary of the attacks.
- The sculpture is the only work by Richards in the museum's collection.
- "Free F'All" is made of fiberglass and resin coated in rust oxide.
- The work depicts a Black military pilot with nails piercing his body, referencing the Tuskegee Airmen.
- Kimberli Gant, curator of modern and contemporary art, organized the installation.
Entities
Artists
- Michael Richards
- Kimberli Gant
Institutions
- Brooklyn Museum
- Hyperallergic
- World Trade Center
- Tuskegee Airmen
Locations
- Brooklyn
- New York
- United States
- Kingston
- Jamaica