Host

Date1996

Maker Ellen Gallagher American, born 1965

Label TextAt first glance, the grids of small circles in this work appear to be an exercise in minimalism. Closer examination, however, reveals hundreds of gleaming eyes staring at the viewer and occasional rows of mouths. Gallagher, who is of African and Irish descent, has loaded the calm surface with reminders of the racist exaggerated facial features seen on white actors performing in blackface in 19th-century American minstrel shows. The artist uses pages from children's composition books to suggest the fine line between innocent doodling and harmful caricatures.

Object number97.6

Photo CreditPhoto: Paul Macapia

Exhibition HistoryNew York, New York, American Academy of Arts and Letters, Invitational Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture, Feb. 17 - June 11, 2000. Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Dis-Figured, May 31, 2001 - Mar. 17, 2002. Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Africa in America, Dec. 18, 2004 - Jan. 1, 2006. Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Black Art, Mar. 25 - Nov. 9, 2008. Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Elles: SAM - Singular Works by Seminal Women Artists, Oct. 6, 2012 - Feb. 17, 2013. New York, New York, New Museum, Ellen Gallagher: Don't Axe Me, June 19 - Sept. 15, 2013. Insert (color). Published ReferencesPerreault, John. "Glorious Summer: Imran Qureshi, Pat Steir, Ellen Gallagher," on Artopia, www.artshournal.com/artopia, August 13, 2013, illus.

Credit LineGift of Richard and Elizabeth Hedreen and the Margaret E. Fuller Purchase Fund

Dimensions69 1/8 x 49 7/8 in. (175.58 x 126.68 cm)

MediumOil and graphite on paper mounted to canvas