Created by
Ringgold, Faith, American, 1930 - 2024
Date
2004
Medium
ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 28 1/2 × 22 1/4 in. (72.4 × 56.5 cm)
Caption
Faith Ringgold is an American painter, writer, mixed media sculptor, and performance artist best known for her narrative compositions painted on fabric. This print, Mama Can Sing, is a companion to Papa Can Blow (2003). Both prints are based upon Ringgold's “story quilt” series devoted to the African American jazz scene, Jazz Stories: Mama Can Sing, Papa Can Blow.
Description
A color lithograph depicting a woman singing. Outlined in blue and metallic gold against black, she wears a blue and gold striped dress and spreads her arms wide, her face tilted back, and her purple lips open in song. There are blue accent shapes behind her and, in the space between her arms and her body, the words “MAMA CAN SING.” In the margin just below the image, handwritten in graphite is the edition [AP 8/20], the title [Mama Can Sing] and the artist’s signature [Faith Ringgold 12/11/04].
Classification
Visual Arts
Type
screen prints
portraits
Topic
Art
Jazz (Music)
Singers (Musicians)
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Juanita and Melvin Hardy
Object number
2020.58.5
Restrictions & Rights
© Faith Ringgold 2004
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5e01129ca-ed3e-4351-8a4b-f397931fdb5a

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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