Across a variety of media -- collage, printmaking, painting, installation -- Derrick Adams (born 1970 Baltimore, MD) delves deeply and fearlessly into the nooks and crannies of Black life and culture, unveiling a nuanced wholeness of humanity. The artist depicts a world where joy, love, leisure, and even prosaic normalcy play central roles, methodically filling the many voids and omissions in popular visual culture. Referencing the history of African Americans, Adams notes that Black people couldn’t always assemble freely....he explains, “When we get together, it isn’t just to have a party. We might be planning a revolution at the same time.” Adams surrounds us with unique individuals who may be discussing the events of the previous week, pitching a business idea, or debating politics. Dreams, plans, frustrations—the content is limited only by our imaginations.
Text ref: Hudson River Museum exhibition (2020)