A Woman Defined

It is a beautiful day in August. I am in my car driving from Newport Beach all the way to Beverly Hills to visit  “Social Abstraction,” a groundbreaking exhibition curated by Antwaun Sargent at Gagosian Gallery. It would take me about an hour to get there, but I am certain it would be all worth my time and effort, for this gallery is my very favorite gallery in LA. Never has it disappointed me. This creative display, which I am about to view, has been curated with the goal in mind of bringing together an imaginative, talented group of Black artists, whose work transcends abstraction and social commentary. So come on and drive with me for some new, magical discoveries. 

I am now here, walking through Gagosian Gallery. I am so impressed and amazed by the boldness of all the work hanging on the walls. They each have their own way of communicating with the viewer their bravely told stories, through using color, texture, and forms — telling the tale of race and gender in the complex language of abstract art. Each piece is moving beyond tradition in order to share history, by using this modern art language fit for the very modern times we live in. 

These works of art are a captivating journey into the complexities of identity. They are provoking and diverse, expressing a deep culture which deserves to be told. They depict a culture which is powerful, colorful, and inviting us to look deeper and hear the voice of each work of art and each different artist the way they want to be heard. There has certainly always been a historical barrier, which the black artists face in the predominately white art world, and here and now with this unique presentation, we are able to celebrate these extraordinary talents. We are able to praise them for being able to expand their boundaries by overcoming many challenges they have been facing and using their art as a social commentary and cultural expression reflecting on the richness of their culture.

I am walking out of the gallery, amazed by all this intellectual achievement I had just witnessed. I invite you all to explore and support black artists by visiting this magnificent exhibition “Social Abstraction.” This curation by Antwaun Sargent is on view at Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills until August 30. It is definitely not to be missed.

PRESS RELEASE

BEVERLY HILLS, June 18, 2024—Gagosian is pleased to announce Social Abstraction, a two-part exhibition in Beverly Hills and Hong Kong curated by Antwaun Sargent. On view from July 18 to August 30, Social Abstraction in Beverly Hills features work by Kyle Abraham, Kevin Beasley, Allana Clarke, Theaster Gates, Cy Gavin, Alteronce Gumby, Lauren Halsey, Kahlil Robert Irving, Devin B. Johnson, Rick Lowe, Eric N. Mack, Cameron Welch, and Amanda Williams. It will be followed this fall by a second iteration in Hong Kong.

The intergenerational assembly of Black artists in Social Abstraction explores the intersections of nonrepresentational form and social consciousness. Moving between and beyond the poles of abstraction and figuration, they form shapes to become landscape and cityscape, color to reveal people and explore the limits of perception, and texture to map the totality of lived experience. Whereas some artists in Social Abstraction paint in oils and acrylics, others use ceramics, hair glue, mosaics, resins, textiles, wigs, and other materials charged with conceptual and cultural significance. 

Tags: Antwaun Sargent, Art, Art Galleries, Art Review, Art Reviews, Beverly Hills, Gagosian Gallery

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