Robert Colescott (1925-2009), Miss Liberty, 1980, acrylic on canvas, framed: 69 x 72 in. Art Bridges. Photography by Demetrius Neal.
Robert Colescott
Miss Liberty
About
Robert Colescott is best known for his satirical perspectives of American history and visual culture. His bold style and use of vivid colors contribute to a retelling of a Euro-American history. The central figure in Miss Liberty stands before a map of the United States, classically posed amid pink clouds and littered trash.
Colescott's Miss Liberty wears similar attire to the nation's symbol of freedom, the Statue of Liberty; also known as Lady Liberty. She smiles as she ascends the terrestrial boundaries of the United States. Three years after the artist produced this image, singer Vanessa Williams became the first Black woman to win the Miss America title. In subverting expectations of Miss America's racial identity, Colescott's painting considers coded visual cues of nationalism and idealized beauty.
Artist
Robert Colescott
Dimensions
Framed: 84 x 72 in.
Credit Line
Art Bridges
Date
1980
Medium
Acrylic on canvas
Object Number
AB.2023.1
Provenance
The Fountain Gallery, Portland, OR; acquired Private collection, 1984; (Bonhams & Butterfields Auctioneers Corporation, New York, NY), February 17, 2023; purchased by Art Bridges, TX, 2023
Availability
2025
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Part of the Ulrich Museum of Art Partner Loan Network Grouping:
Mark Bradford (born 1961), C'mon Shorty, 2022, Permanent wave end papers, paper, acrylic paint on canvas, Image: 72 H x 84 W in (182.9 H x 213.4 W cm). Ulrich Museum of Art, Museum Purchase.
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