Leading Black Artists Featured At Corcoran Gallery

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Le Roi a la Chasse, 2006, Kehinde Wiley, The Blanton Museum of Art, Austin, Texas. Photo Zereshk
Le Roi a la Chasse, 2006, Kehinde Wiley, The Blanton Museum of Art, Austin, Texas. Photo Zereshk

BRETT ZONGKER

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Works by leading black artists in the contemporary art realm go on view at Washington's Corcoran Gallery of Art to tackle issues of racial, sexual and historical identity.

The exhibit, ``30 Americans,'' will be on view through February. It features 31 artists, including Jean-Michel Basquait, Hank Willis Thomas, Kehinde Wiley and others. The 76 works come from collectors Don and Mera Rubell, based in Miami, Florida.

Corcoran Director Fred Bollerer said it marks an effort to undertake more daring exhibitions that examine serious issues and provoke debate. The Corcoran created two companion exhibits featuring 12 new, provocative works by Thomas called ``Strange Fruit'' that includes images harkening back to slavery and 25 photographs by black American photographer and musician Gordon Parks.

``It's a challenging show,'' Bollerer said. ``It's meant to be a challenging show.''

Henry Thaggert, a new member of the Corcoran's board of directors, said the exhibit marks a new chapter in art history still being written by black artists. The museum has planned a series of events to allow the featured artists to discuss and explain their work over the months ahead.

``I'm just going to put it out there,'' Thaggert said, ``I think it's rare that a major institution gives black artists that kind of forum.''

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Corcoran Gallery of Art: http://www.corcoran.edu/

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