Birth of the Cool: RIP Barkley Hendricks
April 18, 2017 10:49 AM Subscribe
RIP, Barkley Hendricks. His paintings, most of which featured people of color, sit at the intersection of realism and postmodernism: portraits full of personality pictured against a flat plane of color.
In his own words:
To be honest, I don’t really give a shit! I’m doing what I want to do. I paint because I like to paint. I paint because I’m motivated for a variety of reasons that I don’t think are always necessary to blab about. The fact that I’ve had experiences within the context of what’s going on currently adds fuel to particular formats or ideas—that’s a part of what’s going on currently."
Well, I paint and make art because I like doing it; that’s always the motivating factor. I’ve created a variety of imagery over the years — figurative painting, photography, fashion portfolios. The subject matter I’m involved with, though, has always been seen as suspect, given the screwed up culture we live in. I’m not sure how you are with other artists, but generally, how many white artists get asked about how their whiteness plays into their work?"
Birth of the Cool, an exhibition at the Nasher Museum of Art in 2008.
In his own words:
To be honest, I don’t really give a shit! I’m doing what I want to do. I paint because I like to paint. I paint because I’m motivated for a variety of reasons that I don’t think are always necessary to blab about. The fact that I’ve had experiences within the context of what’s going on currently adds fuel to particular formats or ideas—that’s a part of what’s going on currently."
Well, I paint and make art because I like doing it; that’s always the motivating factor. I’ve created a variety of imagery over the years — figurative painting, photography, fashion portfolios. The subject matter I’m involved with, though, has always been seen as suspect, given the screwed up culture we live in. I’m not sure how you are with other artists, but generally, how many white artists get asked about how their whiteness plays into their work?"
Birth of the Cool, an exhibition at the Nasher Museum of Art in 2008.
And a youtube link to a short video produced by the Tate: Barkley L. Hendricks – 'I Want to Be Memorable' | TateShots
posted by PussKillian at 12:35 PM on April 18, 2017
posted by PussKillian at 12:35 PM on April 18, 2017
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posted by Become A Silhouette at 3:20 PM on April 18, 2017
posted by Become A Silhouette at 3:20 PM on April 18, 2017
That's some serious painting
posted by fellorwaspushed at 7:03 PM on April 18, 2017
posted by fellorwaspushed at 7:03 PM on April 18, 2017
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I was at the Whitney a few weeks back and was absolutely struck by Steve when I got off the elevator on the 7th floor. The scale, and limited palette, and reflections in the glasses, and captured cool ... they all did it for me, and I came back to the painting three times before I left the floor. I'm surely sorry he's passed, but happy to have seen the TateShots video, and to been captivated by his works.
posted by farmerd at 9:34 PM on April 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
I was at the Whitney a few weeks back and was absolutely struck by Steve when I got off the elevator on the 7th floor. The scale, and limited palette, and reflections in the glasses, and captured cool ... they all did it for me, and I came back to the painting three times before I left the floor. I'm surely sorry he's passed, but happy to have seen the TateShots video, and to been captivated by his works.
posted by farmerd at 9:34 PM on April 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Was so sad to hear of his death this morning. True visionary.
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posted by nubianinthedesert at 2:29 PM on April 19, 2017
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posted by nubianinthedesert at 2:29 PM on April 19, 2017
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posted by Joey Michaels at 11:21 AM on April 18, 2017