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artists & participants
Chelle Barbour,
Joseph Beckles,
April Bey,
Ronda Brown,
Mark Broyard,
Lavialle Campbell,
Castillo,
Elizabeth Catlett,
Ed Clark,
Nzuji de Magalhaes,
Lisa Diane Wedgeworth,
Charles Dickson,
June Edmonds,
Melvin Edwards,
Kathie Foley-Meyer,
Bre Gipson,
David Hammons,
Karl J-G Petion,
Hillary Jaynes,
Rashid Johnson,
Daniel Larue Johnson,
Doyle Lane,
Jacob Lawrence,
Samuel Levi Jones,
Sharon Louise Barnes,
Isabelle Lutterodt,
Enoch Mack,
Eric Mack,
Senga Nengudi,
Kori Newkirk,
Duane Paul,
Doug Pearsall,
Greg Pitts,
Noah Purifoy,
Charla Puryear,
Miles Regis,
Michelle Robinson,
Charles Rosenberg,
Lisa C Soto,
John T Riddle Jr,
Holly Tempo,
Matthew Thomas,
Devin Troy Strother,
Richard Turner,
Tim Washington,
Brenna Youngblood
press release
Hard Edged explores the evolving practice of geometrical abstraction in contemporary art, illustrating the rich interplay of tradition, innovation, and individual talent among forty-six visual artists of African descent. The exhibition offers an expansive and exploratory appreciation of geometrical abstraction not only in painting but also in assemblage, installation, photography, video, quilting, and mixed-media works. Features common to many works include the prominent use of lines and sharply edged shapes, a clear sense of composition, unity of form, intense contrasts, and flat fields of color.
The approaches of the artists in this exhibition are very different, from perceptual to conceptual, from formal to boundary crossing. Some are minimalistic while others celebrate color and texture exuberantly. Although working at various levels of abstraction, the artists in this exhibition address such important issues as feminism, identity, colonialism, stereotypes, family relations, and social justice.
Hard Edged draws widely from local sources, including CAAM’s permanent collection, private collectors, galleries, and the artists themselves, and it includes Chelle Barbour, Sharon Louise Barnes, April Bey, Joseph Beckles, Ronda Brown, Mark Broyard, Lavialle Campbell, Elizabeth Catlett, Castillo, Edward Clark, Charles Dickson, June Edmonds, Melvin Edwards, Kathie Foley-Meyer, Bre Gipson, David Hammons, Hillary Jaynes, Daniel LaRue Johnson, Rashid Johnson, Samuel Levi Jones, Doyle Lane, Jacob Lawrence, Isabelle Lutterodt, Enoch Mack, Eric Mack, Senga Nengudi, Nzuji de Magalhães, Kori Newkirk, Duane Paul, Doug Pearsall, Karl J-G Petion, Greg Pitts, Noah Purifoy, Charla Puryear, Miles Regis, John T. Riddle Jr., Michelle Robinson, Charles Rosenberg, Lisa C Soto, Devin Troy Strother, Holly Tempo, Matthew Thomas, Richard Turner, Tim Washington, Lisa Diane Wedgeworth, and Brenna Youngblood.