Voices & Conversations

Nick Cave’s Soundsuit, while bursting with color and texture invites the audience to a celebration of the creative imagination.  The fully cloaked figure is also intended to negate the possibility of judgment based on appearance and is a protest against racism and the violence it promotes.  Therman Statom’s Crow Portal is an inspirational glass installation by this pioneer of the Studio Glass Movement. Central to his practice is the artist’s commitment to educational programming within the arts, as a catalyst for social change and the empowerment of children in underserved communities.  Kerry James Marshall’s monumental Untitled woodcut offers an unconventional representation of Black men that challenges stereotypes and gender roles. Deborah Roberts’ Speak addresses the societal pressures and images that are too often projected on Black children. Finally, the museum’s two most recent acquisitions, on view for the first time, are Bisa Butler’s Wangari Maathai and Kyle Meyer’s Unidentified 105a. Both of these works have ties to the African continent, Butler’s engaging with issues pertaining to women’s rights and environmental activism in Kenya and Congo, and Meyer’s focusing on the marginalization of the LGBTQ+ community in eSwatini (formerly known as Swaziland). Altogether, the works express their ideas in visually compelling ways and resonate with voices that demand to be heard.

The works included in this exhibition were acquired by the Orlando Museum of Art between 2000 and 2020, with funds provided by the Acquisition Trust.