Faith Ringgold's New Museum Retrospective Examines Power Structures Through Six Decades of Work
The New Museum in New York is showcasing a retrospective of Faith Ringgold called 'American People,' running until June 5. This exhibit highlights her work over 60 years, including paintings, textiles, sculptures, and performances. In 1970, she was convicted for desecrating the American flag at the People's Flag Show. One standout piece, 'Freedom of Speech' from 1990, creatively replaces the flag’s stripes with the phrase from the First Amendment. Among her earlier works is the 1972 mural 'For the Women's House.' Her 'American People' series began in 1963, focusing on the experiences of women and Black people, featuring works like 'The American Dream' (1964) and 'The American People Series #19' (1967). The exhibition also includes 12 painted quilts, 'The French Collection' (1991), addressing institutional issues.
Key facts
- Faith Ringgold's retrospective 'American People' is at the New Museum in New York through June 5.
- Ringgold was convicted in 1970 for desecrating the American flag as a co-organizer of the People's Flag Show at Judson Memorial Church.
- Her 1990 work 'Freedom of Speech' replaces flag stripes with the First Amendment and stars with names like Dred Scott and the KKK.
- The 1972 mural 'For the Women's House' was commissioned for a women's correctional institute and shows women in jobs from police officer to president.
- The 'American People' series began in 1963, with 'The American Dream' (1964) depicting a white woman flashing a diamond ring.
- 'The American People Series #19: US Postage Commemorating the Advent of Black Power' (1967) is 2.4 meters wide and hides 'BLACK POWER' and 'WHITE POWER' in its design.
- Ringgold's 1976 performance 'The Wake and Resurrection of the Bicentennial Negro' uses soft sculptures and West African masquerade traditions.
- The exhibition includes 12 painted quilts from 'The French Collection' (1991), featuring Black figures like Joséphine Baker and James Baldwin in art historical contexts.
Entities
Artists
- Faith Ringgold
- Dred Scott
- Bobby Seale
- Huey P. Newton
- Joséphine Baker
- James Baldwin
- Gertrude Stein
- Picasso
- Manet
Institutions
- New Museum
- Judson Memorial Church
- MoMA
- Louvre
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Paris
- France
- West Africa
- Tibet
- Nepal