Mark Bradford's US Pavilion at Venice Biennale and Career Reflections

Mark Bradford represented the United States at the 2017 Venice Biennale with his presentation 'Tomorrow Is Another Day' at the US Pavilion from May 13 to November 26. The artist, known for his abstract collage-paintings made from layered paper that reflect Los Angeles streetscapes, also collaborated with the Rio Terà dei Pensieri collective, a prisoner rehabilitation program in Venice, supporting their shop selling products made from recycled billboard vinyl. Bradford's career began with his first solo show at Lombard-Freid Fine Arts in New York in 2001 titled 'I Don't Think You Ready For This Jelly'. He graduated from CalArts in 1995 after dropping out twice, having previously worked at his mother's hair salon in Los Angeles. His work addresses themes of marginalization, with recent pieces like 'Sample 1, 2 and 3' (2015) at the Hammer Museum's 'Scorched Earth' exhibition referencing HIV-infected cells. Bradford's audiowork 'Spiderman' (2015) responds to Eddie Murphy's homophobic comedy routine. He co-founded the Art + Practice foundation in 2014 with Allan DiCastro and Eileen Harris Norton in Leimert Park, Los Angeles, supporting foster youth and hosting exhibitions. Bradford's work is also featured in 'Darkness Made Visible: Derek Jarman and Mark Bradford' at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston through July 30, and 'Shade: Clyfford Still/Mark Bradford' at the Denver Art Museum and Clyfford Still Museum through July 16.