Martin Luther King

Date2003

Maker Ross Palmer Beecher American, born 1957

Label TextComprised of humble and discarded materials transformed through meticulous craftsmanship, Ross Palmer Beecher's jewel-like portrait of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King deliberately evokes the appearance of outsider art and folk art traditions. In an assemblage constructed from hammered metal and chandelier remnants, which create a regal collar framing King's face, the artist creates a dignified portrait of an American hero using a style reminiscent of collages by the acclaimed African American artist Romare Bearden (1914-1988). The artist has located a postage stamp commemorating the Emancipation Proclamation in the mouth of her portrait, celebrating the historic roots of King's civil rights message.

Object number2003.62

Provenancecf., Darling, Michael et al. "Betty Bowen Award: Thirty Years." Seattle, WA: Seattle Art Museum, 2009, pp. 58-59

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, "Black Art II", November 21, 2008 - March 15, 2009

Credit LineMark Tobey Estate Fund

Dimensions21 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 3 1/2in. (54.6 x 26.7 x 8.9cm)

MediumMixed media