Created by
Gallagher, Ellen, American, born 1965
Printed by
Two Palms Press, American, founded 1994
Date
2003
Medium
mixed media : paint, plastic on paper (fiber product)
Dimensions
H x W: 13 3/8 × 10 3/8 in. (34 × 26.4 cm)
Description
A mixed media work utilizing photogravure, collage, paint, and Plasticine, laser-cut, three-dimensionally modelled and layered. Covering the majority of the print's surface are small black and white portrait headshots arranged in a grid pattern resembling a photography contact sheet. Each small portrait features an individual, mostly women, shown from the neck upwards. The hair of each individual has been cut out, revealing yellow paper placed underneath to give the figures yellow/blonde hair. Each figure’s eyes have been painted over with white paint. Under each headshot is a rectangle of paper in either white or brown paper. These rectangles appear to be covering up letters in black type that are located under each headshot. In the bottom left corner of the page is a woman’s face in profile facing to the proper right. On her head is a bouffant hairstyle formed out of black Plasticine. Placed throughout the bouffant are small plastic googly-eyes. The woman’s visible right eye is painted over in white. The bottom right corner of the page is covered by several strips of brown paper similar to the small paper rectangles places under the headshots above. There is small black text in the bottom left corner that reads “BOUFFANT PRIDE.” The work is signed, dated and numbered 15/20 in pencil on the verso.
Classification
Visual Arts
Type
collages
Topic
Art
Beauty culture
Feminism
Hair
Identity
Mass media
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2022.80.5
Restrictions & Rights
© Ellen Gallagher
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5c17f8049-ae2b-4ee3-818d-555bfad617ed

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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