dreadnatty
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February 2013
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Titus Kaphar, by dreadnatty on Jan 10, 2015 1:01:35 GMT 1, Titus Kaphar Talks Criminal Justice, His TIME Painting, and First Show at Jack Shainman
![](http://i.imgur.com/PLpinDB.jpg)
![](http://i.imgur.com/Tv4fVYU.jpg)
![](http://i.imgur.com/i0HIPrp.jpg)
Titus Kaphar is having a big year. The artist, who splits his time between New York and Connecticut, has his first solo museum exhibition in the New York, titled โThe Jerome Project,โ currently on view at the Studio Museum in Harlem through March. Fortuitously, the show drew the attention of TIME magazineโs art director, who saw it and commissioned Mr. Kaphar to do a painting for the magazine inspired by the events in Ferguson, Missouri that have kicked off protests nation-wide. On Wednesday, Creative Capital announced that the artist was one of its 2015 awardees, set to receive funding to continue work on the โThe Jerome Project.โ And next week he will open his first solo show with Jack Shainman gallery, filling both its Chelsea locations. The Observer spoke with Mr. Kaphar earlier this week by phone. We discussed everything from what will be on view at the gallery to where he finds himself now that his art has graced the pages of TIME.
He explained that the works at the West 24th street location will be a continuation of โThe Jerome Project,โ a series started in 2011 based on mug shots of people who shared his fatherโs name. Heโll present a new drawing series titled โAsphalt and Chalk,โ comprised of multiple images superimposed together to create a jarring visual effect. And the work at the West 20th Street locale will be โan introduction to my vocabulary,โ he said. โIt looks at the way I deal with history and my different modes of intervention.โ
Mr. Kaphar frequently incorporates historical research into his paintings, drawing on figures and events that have been excluded from the art historical canon. Many of the pieces are interventions into that canon; he manipulates classic paintings by obscuring existing figures, inserting new ones, and blurring historical narrative.
So when it came to the TIME commission, while at first hesitant, he accepted the challenge because the subject overlapped with themes heโd already been working with. The painting, titled Yet Another Fight for Remembrance, depicts marching protestors with their hands held above their heads, half of their faces and bodies removed by large strokes of white paint. โIn a way, Iโve been making this work for a long timeโthese issues have been happening for a long time,โ he told us. โMy work has a certain level of diversity: different branches on the same tree. People are looking at this particular branch right now, but that branch has been there for a long time. I will continue working on that project, and other issues with criminal justice.โ
He explained further saying:
I was really concerned when I was approached for that specific project, but I felt like it was something that I needed and wanted to do. The way the media cycle works is not to necessarily canonize things, and in fact itโs often the opposite. The news cycle is so fast that I feared I was participating in the process of erasing the subject matter. When I started working on sketches I wanted to do something that incorporated that idea: the sense of being erased, this place of presence and absence at the same time. And thatโs how Iโve used the white wash in my paintings in the past.
So far, the publicโs conversations surrounding the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, among others, have yet to wane. Instead, theyโve drummed up widespread concern over police procedures and the deaths of unarmed suspects, particularly people of color. A host of responses have come from artists, and recurring symbols have emerged, such as the โhands upโ image that has been shared among activists nationwide.
We asked him if he thought recent events had struck a different, more resonant chord:
The optimist in me wants to say yes, but the only way to really be sure is to see if it endures. The fact that weโre still talking about it is a good sign, but it hasnโt even been a year yet. So, weโll see. There are a lot of people coming to this information as if it were new, and theyโre shocked that so many people would need to have this fear and discomfort about police. And then thereโs a whole other community for whom this happens all the time, every day, in every city in America.
Mr. Kaphar shared a recent, personal experience with the NYPD:
I was in Chelsea just last year with my brother who came up to visit me. We were walking around and I said, โHey I have an exhibition up here, letโs go check it out.โ We were having a good time, having a conversation, and as we were walking down 10th Avenue an undercover police car speeds up to us, two officers jump out, hands on guns, and say โStop, can we speak to you for a second?โ Iโm like, yeah, sure, โWhatโs going on?โ And they said, โWeโve been following you for the last two hours, going in and out of galleries, and weโve heard that thereโs been a ring of folks stealing art,โ Actually, what he said, and I wrote it down afterward because I was so shocked, โa black ring of art thievesโ that were stealing art from the galleries. I told them โIโve got a show up right around the corner, we didnโt do anything, as a matter of fact if youโve been following us for the past two hours then clearly youโd know that we didnโt take anything, so whatโs going on here?โ And they said, โLetโs have your IDs.โ Iโm getting frustrated, and the officers are like โWe need to pat you down.โ โPat me down?! What do you need to pat me down for? We didnโt do anything, we didnโt take anything, If youโve been following us than youโd know that.โ I was getting more agitated, and Iโm trying to keep my calm because my brotherโs there, so finally I said, โ I donโt understand why youโre doing this. You know we havenโt taken anything. I donโt get this.โ I didnโt say it calm because I was upset about the situation. And the last thing the officers said to me was โI hope you never find yourself in a situation where you need the police.โ
On whether he planned to continue making work closely related to the subject matter in his painting for TIME, he responded:
I say all that because when Iโve told people about that being my experience, what I hear is โBut Titus, you have a degree from Yale, youโre a successful artist.โ And I have to say over and over again, thatโs not the first time thatโs happened to me, and it has nothing to do with any of those things. Part of me is frustrated, but part of me also feels this is an opportunity to share whatโs going on outside of the circle that people experience. I hope that I have people in my circle that are telling me about circumstances that I havenโt experienced. Whatever the alternative is to what I am, I want to hear about.
Titus Kaphar Talks Criminal Justice, His TIME Painting, and First Show at Jack Shainman ![](http://i.imgur.com/PLpinDB.jpg) ![](http://i.imgur.com/Tv4fVYU.jpg) ![](http://i.imgur.com/i0HIPrp.jpg) Titus Kaphar is having a big year. The artist, who splits his time between New York and Connecticut, has his first solo museum exhibition in the New York, titled โThe Jerome Project,โ currently on view at the Studio Museum in Harlem through March. Fortuitously, the show drew the attention of TIME magazineโs art director, who saw it and commissioned Mr. Kaphar to do a painting for the magazine inspired by the events in Ferguson, Missouri that have kicked off protests nation-wide. On Wednesday, Creative Capital announced that the artist was one of its 2015 awardees, set to receive funding to continue work on the โThe Jerome Project.โ And next week he will open his first solo show with Jack Shainman gallery, filling both its Chelsea locations. The Observer spoke with Mr. Kaphar earlier this week by phone. We discussed everything from what will be on view at the gallery to where he finds himself now that his art has graced the pages of TIME. He explained that the works at the West 24th street location will be a continuation of โThe Jerome Project,โ a series started in 2011 based on mug shots of people who shared his fatherโs name. Heโll present a new drawing series titled โAsphalt and Chalk,โ comprised of multiple images superimposed together to create a jarring visual effect. And the work at the West 20th Street locale will be โan introduction to my vocabulary,โ he said. โIt looks at the way I deal with history and my different modes of intervention.โ Mr. Kaphar frequently incorporates historical research into his paintings, drawing on figures and events that have been excluded from the art historical canon. Many of the pieces are interventions into that canon; he manipulates classic paintings by obscuring existing figures, inserting new ones, and blurring historical narrative. So when it came to the TIME commission, while at first hesitant, he accepted the challenge because the subject overlapped with themes heโd already been working with. The painting, titled Yet Another Fight for Remembrance, depicts marching protestors with their hands held above their heads, half of their faces and bodies removed by large strokes of white paint. โIn a way, Iโve been making this work for a long timeโthese issues have been happening for a long time,โ he told us. โMy work has a certain level of diversity: different branches on the same tree. People are looking at this particular branch right now, but that branch has been there for a long time. I will continue working on that project, and other issues with criminal justice.โ He explained further saying: I was really concerned when I was approached for that specific project, but I felt like it was something that I needed and wanted to do. The way the media cycle works is not to necessarily canonize things, and in fact itโs often the opposite. The news cycle is so fast that I feared I was participating in the process of erasing the subject matter. When I started working on sketches I wanted to do something that incorporated that idea: the sense of being erased, this place of presence and absence at the same time. And thatโs how Iโve used the white wash in my paintings in the past. So far, the publicโs conversations surrounding the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, among others, have yet to wane. Instead, theyโve drummed up widespread concern over police procedures and the deaths of unarmed suspects, particularly people of color. A host of responses have come from artists, and recurring symbols have emerged, such as the โhands upโ image that has been shared among activists nationwide. We asked him if he thought recent events had struck a different, more resonant chord: The optimist in me wants to say yes, but the only way to really be sure is to see if it endures. The fact that weโre still talking about it is a good sign, but it hasnโt even been a year yet. So, weโll see. There are a lot of people coming to this information as if it were new, and theyโre shocked that so many people would need to have this fear and discomfort about police. And then thereโs a whole other community for whom this happens all the time, every day, in every city in America. Mr. Kaphar shared a recent, personal experience with the NYPD: I was in Chelsea just last year with my brother who came up to visit me. We were walking around and I said, โHey I have an exhibition up here, letโs go check it out.โ We were having a good time, having a conversation, and as we were walking down 10th Avenue an undercover police car speeds up to us, two officers jump out, hands on guns, and say โStop, can we speak to you for a second?โ Iโm like, yeah, sure, โWhatโs going on?โ And they said, โWeโve been following you for the last two hours, going in and out of galleries, and weโve heard that thereโs been a ring of folks stealing art,โ Actually, what he said, and I wrote it down afterward because I was so shocked, โa black ring of art thievesโ that were stealing art from the galleries. I told them โIโve got a show up right around the corner, we didnโt do anything, as a matter of fact if youโve been following us for the past two hours then clearly youโd know that we didnโt take anything, so whatโs going on here?โ And they said, โLetโs have your IDs.โ Iโm getting frustrated, and the officers are like โWe need to pat you down.โ โPat me down?! What do you need to pat me down for? We didnโt do anything, we didnโt take anything, If youโve been following us than youโd know that.โ I was getting more agitated, and Iโm trying to keep my calm because my brotherโs there, so finally I said, โ I donโt understand why youโre doing this. You know we havenโt taken anything. I donโt get this.โ I didnโt say it calm because I was upset about the situation. And the last thing the officers said to me was โI hope you never find yourself in a situation where you need the police.โ On whether he planned to continue making work closely related to the subject matter in his painting for TIME, he responded: I say all that because when Iโve told people about that being my experience, what I hear is โBut Titus, you have a degree from Yale, youโre a successful artist.โ And I have to say over and over again, thatโs not the first time thatโs happened to me, and it has nothing to do with any of those things. Part of me is frustrated, but part of me also feels this is an opportunity to share whatโs going on outside of the circle that people experience. I hope that I have people in my circle that are telling me about circumstances that I havenโt experienced. Whatever the alternative is to what I am, I want to hear about.
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Titus Kaphar, by Street Art Fan on Jan 10, 2015 9:24:54 GMT 1, Many thanks dreadnatty for posting this. I love Titus' work, and would love nothing more than to check out the Harlem & Chelsea shows. Although not urban art, his work shares the same disruptive rebel spirit that you find with many street artists. Before the End and The Fight For Remembrance I in particular are two pieces that just blow me away.
Many thanks dreadnatty for posting this. I love Titus' work, and would love nothing more than to check out the Harlem & Chelsea shows. Although not urban art, his work shares the same disruptive rebel spirit that you find with many street artists. Before the End and The Fight For Remembrance I in particular are two pieces that just blow me away.
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Titus Kaphar, by Coach on Jan 24, 2015 1:53:03 GMT 1, First time I saw his work I did not appreciate it at all. It took a while. Now I love it. That's pretty much all I can manage now. A little drunk!
First time I saw his work I did not appreciate it at all. It took a while. Now I love it. That's pretty much all I can manage now. A little drunk!
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Deleted
Posts โข 0
Likes โข
January 1970
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Titus Kaphar, by Deleted on Jan 24, 2015 2:11:02 GMT 1, First time I saw his work I did not appreciate it at all. It took a while. Now I love it. That's pretty much all I can manage now. A little drunk! Drunk enough for mandy and nordic? We can do private internet chat for small fee of 1xburka(inc free shipping)assuming nordicstar approves? My speciality is knowledge of freshwater fish a-w i still have to learn xyz ![:(](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/sad.png)
First time I saw his work I did not appreciate it at all. It took a while. Now I love it. That's pretty much all I can manage now. A little drunk! Drunk enough for mandy and nordic? We can do private internet chat for small fee of 1xburka(inc free shipping)assuming nordicstar approves? My speciality is knowledge of freshwater fish a-w i still have to learn xyz ![:(](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/sad.png)
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Titus Kaphar, by Coach on Jan 24, 2015 2:17:46 GMT 1, First time I saw his work I did not appreciate it at all. It took a while. Now I love it. That's pretty much all I can manage now. A little drunk! Drunk enough for mandy and nordic? We can do private internet chat for small fee of 1xburka(inc free shipping)assuming nordicstar approves?ย My speciality is knowledge of freshwater fish a-w ย ย i still have to learn xyz ![:(](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/sad.png)
Oh my! If only I had collected Bambi
First time I saw his work I did not appreciate it at all. It took a while. Now I love it. That's pretty much all I can manage now. A little drunk! Drunk enough for mandy and nordic? We can do private internet chat for small fee of 1xburka(inc free shipping)assuming nordicstar approves?ย My speciality is knowledge of freshwater fish a-w ย ย i still have to learn xyz ![:(](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/sad.png) Oh my! If only I had collected Bambi
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Deleted
Posts โข 0
Likes โข
January 1970
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Titus Kaphar, by Deleted on Jan 24, 2015 2:19:27 GMT 1, Drunk enough for mandy and nordic? We can do private internet chat for small fee of 1xburka(inc free shipping)assuming nordicstar approves? My speciality is knowledge of freshwater fish a-w i still have to learn xyz ![:(](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/sad.png) Oh my! If only I had collected Bambi ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
Drunk enough for mandy and nordic? We can do private internet chat for small fee of 1xburka(inc free shipping)assuming nordicstar approves? My speciality is knowledge of freshwater fish a-w i still have to learn xyz ![:(](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/sad.png) Oh my! If only I had collected Bambi ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
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dreadnatty
Junior Member
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_silver.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_silver.png)
Posts โข 5,431
Likes โข 6,992
February 2013
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Titus Kaphar, by dreadnatty on Jan 24, 2015 2:30:03 GMT 1, First time I saw his work I did not appreciate it at all. It took a while. Now I love it. That's pretty much all I can manage now. A little drunk! Hoping to get to the show next week. Ill post photos.
First time I saw his work I did not appreciate it at all. It took a while. Now I love it. That's pretty much all I can manage now. A little drunk! Hoping to get to the show next week. Ill post photos.
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Titus Kaphar, by Mirus Gallery Poesia on Feb 10, 2015 0:17:42 GMT 1, Believe the Hype or actually just appreciate the work this guy is maybe not Urban but as far as contemporary painters painting about real issues and not being cliche about it.
![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8572/16458607336_5a14cb6fd2_z.jpg)
![](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8605/16483640722_859f73c14e_c.jpg)
![](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7326/16484605205_701dc49ae0_b.jpg)
![](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7440/16458600776_683e5e75f1_c.jpg)
![](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7301/16458595566_0ef83e42ab_z.jpg)
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HRE
Junior Member
Posts โข 1,183
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March 2007
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Titus Kaphar, by HRE on Feb 10, 2015 10:09:17 GMT 1, Really like his work. how much would one of his cutout pieces cost to purchase. If you can find one.
Really like his work. how much would one of his cutout pieces cost to purchase. If you can find one.
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