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Lorraine O'Grady

Goodman Gallery Johannesburg

May 14–June 18, 2011

Art Is. . . (Float Back)  (1983/2009)

Art Is. . . (Float Back) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is. . . (Back of Float)

Art Is. . . (Back of Float)
(1983/2009 )
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is. . . (Faded Renaissance) (1983/2009)

Art Is. . . (Faded Renaissance) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is. . . (Girlfriends Times Two) (1983/2009)

Art Is. . . (Girlfriends Times Two) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is. . . (Woman and Umbrella) (1983/2009)

Art Is. . . (Woman and Umbrella) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is... (Man with Baby) (1983/2009)

Art Is... (Man with Baby) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is... (Line of Floats) (1983/2009)

Art Is... (Line of Floats) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is... (Dancing on Flatbed) (1983/2009 )

Art Is... (Dancing on Flatbed) (1983/2009 )
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is. . . (Dancer in Grass Skirt)  (1983/2009 )

Art Is. . . (Dancer in Grass Skirt) (1983/2009 )
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is... (Troupe with Mile Bourgeoise Noire) (1983/2009)

Art Is... (Troupe with Mile Bourgeoise Noire) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is. . . (Cop Framed) (1983/2009)

Art Is. . . (Cop Framed) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is... (Women in Crowd Framed) (1983/2009)

Art Is... (Women in Crowd Framed) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is... (Man with Towel Head) (1983/2009)

Art Is... (Man with Towel Head) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is...(Troupe Front) (1983/2009)

Art Is...(Troupe Front) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is. . . (Cop Eyeing Young Man) (1983/2009)

Art Is. . . (Cop Eyeing Young Man) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is. . . (Woman and Girl with Stripes) (1983/2009)

Art Is. . . (Woman and Girl with Stripes) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is. . . (Metropolitan Baptist) (1983/2009)

Art Is. . . (Metropolitan Baptist) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is. . . (Caught in the Art) (1983/2009)

Art Is. . . (Caught in the Art) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is. . . (Woman with Stripes) (1983/2009)

Art Is. . . (Woman with Stripes) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is... (Man with Rings and Child) (1983/2009)

Art Is... (Man with Rings and Child) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is. . . (Couple With Bad Teeth) (1983/2009)

Art Is. . . (Couple With Bad Teeth) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is. . . (Colt 45 “African” Float) (1983/2009)

Art Is. . . (Colt 45 “African” Float) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is...(Star East Monuments) (1983/2009)

Art Is...(Star East Monuments) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is. . . (Cross Street) (1983/2009)

Art Is. . . (Cross Street) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is... (Woman with Man and Cop Watching) (1983/2009)

Art Is... (Woman with Man and Cop Watching) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is. . . (Ashanti Professionals) (1983/2009)

Art Is. . . (Ashanti Professionals) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is. . . (Float with Back of Troupe) (1983/2009)

Art Is. . . (Float with Back of Troupe) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is. . . (Man with a Camera) (1983/2009)

Art Is. . . (Man with a Camera) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is. . . (Stone and Brick with Egyptian Motif) (1983/2009)

Art Is. . . (Stone and Brick with Egyptian Motif) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is. . . (Guys in a Crowd) (1983/2009)

Art Is. . . (Guys in a Crowd) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is... (Sheadrach Home Cooking) (1983/2009)

Art Is... (Sheadrach Home Cooking) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is... (Unisex Barber Shop)  (1983/2009)

Art Is... (Unisex Barber Shop) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is... (Float on 125th Street) (1983/2009 )

Art Is... (Float on 125th Street) (1983/2009 )
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is... (Framing Cop) (1983/2009 )

Art Is... (Framing Cop) (1983/2009 )
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is... (Young Women Leaning on Barrier) (1983/2009)

Art Is... (Young Women Leaning on Barrier) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is... (Lickety Split) (1983/2009)

Art Is... (Lickety Split) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is... (Glamor with Glasses) (1983/2009 )

Art Is... (Glamor with Glasses) (1983/2009 )
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is... (Nubians) (1983/2009)

Art Is... (Nubians) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is... (Window Grilles) (1983/2009)

Art Is... (Window Grilles) (1983/2009)
C-print
16h x 20w in (40.64h x 50.8w cm)

Art Is. . . (Girl Pointing) (1983/2009)

Art Is. . . (Girl Pointing) (1983/2009)
C-print
20h x 16w in (50.8h x 40.64w cm)

Untitled (Mlle Bourgeoise Noire leaves the safety of home) (1980-83/2009)

Untitled (Mlle Bourgeoise Noire leaves the safety of home) (1980-83/2009)
Silver gelatin print; Edition of 20 with 2 AP

Untitled (Mlle Bourgeoise Noire and her Master of Ceremonies enter the New Museum)(1980-83/2009)

Untitled (Mlle Bourgeoise Noire and her Master of Ceremonies enter the New Museum)(1980-83/2009)
Silver gelatin print; Edition of 20 with 2 AP

Untitled (Mlle Bourgeoise Noire asks, "Won't you help me lighten my heavy bouquet?") (1980-83/2009)

Untitled (Mlle Bourgeoise Noire asks, "Won't you help me lighten my heavy bouquet?") (1980-83/2009)
Silver gelatin print; Edition of 20 with 2 AP

Untitled (A Skeptic Inspects Mlle Bourgeoise Noire's Cape) (1980-83/2009)

Untitled (A Skeptic Inspects Mlle Bourgeoise Noire's Cape) (1980-83/2009)
Silver gelatin print; Edition of 20 with 2 AP

Untitled (Mlle Bourgeoise Noire smiles, she smiles, she smiles) (1980-83/2009)

Untitled (Mlle Bourgeoise Noire smiles, she smiles, she smiles) (1980-83/2009)
Silver gelatin print; Edition of 20 with 2 AP

Untitled (Mlle Bourgeoise Noire continues her tournée) (1980-83/2009)

Untitled (Mlle Bourgeoise Noire continues her tournée) (1980-83/2009)
Silver gelatin print; Edition of 20 with 2 AP

Untitled (Mlle Bourgeoise Noire removes the cape and puts on her gloves) (1980-83/2009)

Untitled (Mlle Bourgeoise Noire removes the cape and puts on her gloves) (1980-83/2009)
Silver gelatin print; Edition of 20 with 2 AP

Untitled (Mlle Bourgeoise Noire Begins to Concentrate) (1980-83/2009)

Untitled (Mlle Bourgeoise Noire Begins to Concentrate) (1980-83/2009)
Silver gelatin print; Edition of 20 with 2 AP

Untitled (Crowd Watches Mlle Bourgeoise Noire Whipping Herself) (1980-83/2009)

Untitled (Crowd Watches Mlle Bourgeoise Noire Whipping Herself) (1980-83/2009)
Silver gelatin print; Edition of 20 with 2 AP

Untitled (Mlle Bourgeoise Noire Beats Herself with the Whip-That-Made-Plantations-Move)  (1980-83/2009)

Untitled (Mlle Bourgeoise Noire Beats Herself with the Whip-That-Made-Plantations-Move) (1980-83/2009)
Silver gelatin print; Edition of 20 with 2 AP

Untitled (Crowd Watches Mlle Bourgeoise Noire Shouting her Poem)  (1980-83/2009)

Untitled (Crowd Watches Mlle Bourgeoise Noire Shouting her Poem) (1980-83/2009)
Silver gelatin print; Edition of 20 with 2 AP

Untitled (Mlle Bourgeoise Noire Shouts Out Her Poem)  (1980-83/2009)

Untitled
(Mlle Bourgeoise Noire Shouts Out Her Poem) (1980-83/2009)
Silver gelatin print; Edition of 20 with 2 AP

Untitled (Mlle Bourgeoise Noire leaves the New Museum) (1980-83/2009)

Untitled (Mlle Bourgeoise Noire leaves the New Museum) (1980-83/2009)
Silver gelatin print; Edition of 20 with 2 AP

Untitled (Mlle Bourgeoise Noire celebrates with her friends) (1980-83/2009)

Untitled (Mlle Bourgeoise Noire celebrates with her friends) (1980-83/2009)
Silver gelatin print; Edition of 20 with 2 AP

Body/Ground (The Clearing: or Cortez and La Malinche. Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, N. and Me) (1991)

Body/Ground (The Clearing: or Cortez and La Malinche. Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, N. and Me) (1991)
Photomontage
34h x 42w in (86.36h x 106.68w cm)

Press Release

The significance of Lorraine O’Grady and Tracey Rose’s new show, an exhibit at Goodman Gallery Johannesburg of curated selections of their works from different periods in their careers, cannot be overstated. Titled Rose O’Grady, the show is a gift to artists, to South Africa, to the world. It is the first time that Lorraine O’Grady will exhibit in Africa. It is the first time that there will be an intergenerational and international dialogue between two important black female conceptual artists with performance-based practices. It is the first time that Rose’s dynamic work, presented on her home turf following her important retrospective at the Johannesburg Art Gallery, will be contextualised with that of an especially inspirational American pioneer.

What makes this truly unique is that O’Grady and Rose have multi-disciplinary practices, including video, photography, text, and installation, with performance at the core. The confluence of identity issues and contemporary life concerns are what have made performance as an artistic practice immensely relevant for them as they explore the binary complexity of their identity and address new agendas, completely unrestrained by tradition and convention. They both possess a profoundly deep understanding of and research in literature and art history, including Renaissance old masters, modernism, conceptual and performance art, and especially feminist art of the 1960s-1970s. Their work exists at the nexus of postmodern art movements, political discourse, sociological investigation, and historical narrative. O’Grady and Rose’s conceptual frameworks—which are deeply process driven, it typically taking years to develop a concept for a work—are centered on the development of characters and personas. These personas give physical form to their ideas as they create a variety of individuals or metaphorical beings: some are personal, some stereotypical, others historical. The personas serve to embody, transform, and use these women’s life experiences in order not to be held back, rendered powerless by them. Their aim is also to catalyse society, to clear the mental and moral barriers, allowing art to lurk in the midst of things, allowing the message to hang in the air, allowing it to permeate our collective conscious.

While the work spans over 30 years, one of the most striking aspects of this special collaboration, despite differences in age and geography, is the evolutionary pattern, a continuum that exists between these two artists. These bold, fearless, aggressive works are deeply and profoundly connected. O’Grady certainly had almost no references who shared a common life experience as her own when she began to make work. Rose and artists of her generation and those even younger, whether in South Africa or in the Caribbean or in the United States, absolutely do: there is O’Grady, Suzanne Cesaire, Ben Patterson, Adrian Piper, and David Hammons, among many others. What this show most importantly does is to convey that this brave work is not made in isolation and that it is overpoweringly relevant.

The exhibit presents the artists’ important early works, including performance stills from O’Grady’s Mlle Bourgeoisie Noire (1980-1983), and Rose’s Span I and Span II (1997) and Ciao Bella (2001). It also features photographs that reference and subvert public performance traditions or “parading” like the African American Day Parade in Harlem, New York City and the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival. O’Grady and Rose will each show thrilling new work in the show.

So starting this May, the initial rumblings of what ultimately will be a seismic shift in the global contemporary art world, will emerge as a proposition—indeed, a new persona, a merging of minds, aesthetics, voices, and experiences. She is Rose O’Grady.

Text by Adrienne Edwards