Exhibition: 30 Americans

30 Americans features an incredible “Who’s Who” list from among the most acclaimed Black artists of the last few decades, including Nick Cave, Glenn Ligon, Lorna Simpson, Mickalene Thomas, and Kehinde Wiley. These artists explore identity, triumph, tragedy, pride, prejudice, and wit in a provocative exhibition united by one nation and distinguished by 30 experiences. Being American is only one aspect of these artists’ identities, and their understanding of what that means is as varied as the art on view. Their work provides a dynamic showcase of contemporary art offering an intersectional series of varying gender, sexuality, and class perspectives.

This exhibition asks viewers to consider our places in this country. What you see is both part of a national conversation and an opportunity to contemplate the issues that shape our own communities. Traveling throughout the United States for a decade with each museum tailoring its own selection of works, 30 Americans has helped fuel the drive to fill historical gaps in American museum collections. Organized by the Rubell Museum.

On view at the Columbia Museum of Art October 9, 2021 – January 17, 2022 (Tuesday-Sunday).

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Image: Henry Taylor, Watts County (detail), 2004, Acrylic on canvas, 76 x 61 3/4 in. (193 x 157 cm). © Henry Taylor. Courtesy Rubell Museum, Miami.