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Barkley L. Hendricks: Portraits at the Frick
21 Sep 2023 — 7 Jan 2024 at Frick Madison
· New York City
This 2023–2024 exhibition at the Frick Madison presents a comprehensive survey of Barkley L. Hendricks' portrait paintings, one of the most important bodies of work in contemporary American art. Hendricks, a trailblazing figure in African American art, is celebrated for his distinctive approach to portraiture that combines technical mastery with a profound engagement with identity, presence, and dignity.
The exhibition showcases works spanning his career, highlighting his ability to capture the essence of his subjects with remarkable sensitivity and formal innovation. His portraits are characterized by bold color, dynamic composition, and an unflinching gaze that challenges conventional representations of Black life and culture.
Through this collection, visitors encounter Hendricks' unique vision—one that has influenced generations of artists and continues to resonate with contemporary conversations about representation, authenticity, and the power of portraiture.
The exhibition showcases works spanning his career, highlighting his ability to capture the essence of his subjects with remarkable sensitivity and formal innovation. His portraits are characterized by bold color, dynamic composition, and an unflinching gaze that challenges conventional representations of Black life and culture.
Through this collection, visitors encounter Hendricks' unique vision—one that has influenced generations of artists and continues to resonate with contemporary conversations about representation, authenticity, and the power of portraiture.
About the artist
Barkley L. Hendricks
1945–2017 · contemporary art
Barkley L. Hendricks was a contemporary American painter who made pioneering contributions to Black portraiture and conceptualism. While he worked in a variety of media and genres throughout his career, Hendricks' best known work took the form of life-sized painted oil portraits of Black Americans.
About the artist →About the venue
Frick Madison
· New York City
945 Madison Avenue, also known as the Breuer Building and formerly the Whitney Museum Building, is located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York City. Built from 1964 to 1966 as the third home of the Whitney Museum of American Art, it subsequently held a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of…
