Mark Bradford: Painting as Political Act and Social Practice

Mark Bradford, the American artist representing the US at the 2017 Venice Biennale, argues that painting is inherently political. In a conversation in Rome, he stated that becoming an artist as an African American was itself a political gesture. He critiques the art world's historical exclusion of women and people of color, and emphasizes the need to contextualize art within social and political history. Bradford discusses his project Process Collettivo with Rio Terà dei Pensieri, a cooperative employing prisoners, which opened a shop in Venice a month before the Biennale. He insists on sustainable, long-term engagement rather than short-term spectacle. On the art market, he warns young artists not to rely solely on galleries, calling them 'just market,' and stresses the importance of building a broader network of curators, critics, and friends. He also cites Kazimir Malevich as a major influence, noting that understanding his work requires knowledge of the political context.