Toyin Ojih Odutola's Lockdown Drawings Explore Black Interiority at Jack Shainman Gallery
The exhibition titled 'Tell Me A Story, I Don't Care If It's True' by Toyin Ojih Odutola showcases drawings created during the 2020 lockdown. Initially launched online through Jack Shainman Gallery, the in-person display is on view in Chelsea, New York, from September 10 to November 7. The artist's portraits of Black individuals are accompanied by handwritten text vignettes, delving into themes such as visibility, self-deception, and the impacts of colonialism. Key pieces include 'For Evidence', 'Chosen', 'It'll be over soon', 'Homeroom', 'Always Been', and 'Nourishment'. The exhibition offers an intimate experience centered around listening, featuring drawings that change with light, continuing the narrative approach seen in Ojih Odutola's 2017 Whitney Museum show.
Key facts
- Toyin Ojih Odutola created the drawings during the 2020 lockdown
- The exhibition is titled 'Tell Me A Story, I Don't Care If It's True'
- Works were first viewable online on Jack Shainman Gallery's website in summer 2020
- Physical exhibition ran from September 10 to November 7, 2020
- The show features closely cropped portraits of Black people with dreamy expressions
- Text vignettes accompany each portrait, exploring personal stories and lies
- Themes include visibility, ancestry, colonial legacies, and self-love
- Ojih Odutola had a breakout solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum in 2017
Entities
Artists
- Toyin Ojih Odutola
Institutions
- Jack Shainman Gallery
- Whitney Museum
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Brooklyn
- Chelsea
- West 24th Street
- Nigeria