Martin Luther King

2003

American, born 1957

Comprised 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.

Mixed media

21 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 3 1/2in. (54.6 x 26.7 x 8.9cm)

Mark Tobey Estate Fund

2003.62

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

Not currently on view

Resources

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

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