Created by
Gatson, Rico, American, born 1966
Date
2022
Medium
acrylic paint and glitter on wood with metal
Dimensions
H x W x D: 35 13/16 × 80 × 1 3/8 in. (91 × 203.2 × 3.5 cm)
Caption
Rico Gatson has used abstraction to explore Black experience in America in both subtle and more overt ways. The title of Untitled (Triple Consciousness) references W.E.B. DuBois’ theory of double consciousness, in which Black Americans see themselves in relation to both Black culture and White society. Triple consciousness expands this idea to include the intersection of these two perspectives with gender, specifically addressing Black women. In the spring of 2023, the Social Justice Billboard Project displayed Untitled (Triple Consciousness) as one of the billboards facing George Floyd Square in Minneapolis.
Description
Untitled (Triple Consciousness) by Rico Gatson. This acrylic and glitter painting on wood features three overlapping concentric circles that resemble targets. The rings of the concentric circles are painted in bright colors that include yellow, orange, green, lavender, red, purple, brown, and sky blue. The outermost rings of the left and right concentric circles are black glitter while the center circle has a plain black outer rim. Each of the three concentric circles also feature a black glitter ring towards the circles’ centers. The circles’ rings are mostly similar in thickness with some thinner and wider rings interspersed. At the center of each concentric circle is a solid colored circle with purple at the center of the left circle, sky blue at the center of the middle circle, and green at the center of the right circle. Where the circles overlap, the overlapping rings change colors. The concentric circles are set against a white background with thick, even, brightly colored vertical stripes interspersed with black stripes. At the bottom right corner of the verso is the artist’s signature and date written in black ink that reads [RG22].
Place made
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Place purchased
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Visual Arts
Type
acrylic paintings
Topic
Art
Gender
Identity
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2023.81.2
Restrictions & Rights
© Rico Gatson
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd52786fd96-2d36-4836-9350-8a756539c145

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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