Exhibition: Personal to Political: Celebrating the African American Artists of Paulson Fontaine Press

There is no singular way to address the conversation of race and representation in contemporary art. Personal to Political: Celebrating the African American Artists of Paulson Fontaine Press presents the unique vision and personal narratives of African American artists from across the country. Channeling the poetics of the human experience, this exhibition reflects on history, identity, personal stories, and spiritual inspiration. With 46 fine art prints by seventeen different artists and a large-scale basketball pyramid installation by Berkeley artist David Huffman, this exhibition presents a powerful array of figurative and abstract art.

Personal to Political highlights the work of African American artists who are reshaping the world of contemporary art. Included are works by Martin Puryear, known globally for his elegant abstract sculptural forms; San Francisco Bay Area artist Lava Thomas, who considers themes of social justice and female subjectivity; and Lonnie Holley, a self-taught artist and prodigious mixed-media master; as well as art by Kerry James Marshall, Gary Simmons, and Radcliffe Bailey. Abstract quilts by Alabama’s celebrated Gee’s Bend quilters, including Loretta and Essie Pettway and Louisiana and Mary Lee Bendolph, have been adapted into prints, creating dynamic graphic art from the group’s work in traditional textiles.