Black History Month: Titus Kaphar
If I’ve come away with any insight writing this Black History Month series, it’s this: the more you look, the more you will find greatness. Let’s talk about:
In every Titus Kaphar painting I’ve seen, he asks a singular question: “Who’s missing from this story?” My first exposure to his work was seeing “Behind the Myth of Benevolence.” If the work asks who is missing from Thomas Jefferson’s story, the easy answer is Sally Hemings. A more nuanced answer might acknowledge the (gaping) holes in American history where Black people would be. Other works by Kaphar also resonate with me for these reasons:
The dignity with which he portrays Black people
His combinations of oil painting with other media, including tar
His willingness to cut and otherwise “damage” the canvases he paints.
It should come as no surprise that Kaphar is a MacArthur “genius grant” winner. He’s co-created an art incubator program to mentor and support Black and Brown artists. He’s also ventured into film, directing the documentary “Shut Up and Paint.” Art news outlets say he’s directed an upcoming feature film, “Exhibiting Forgiveness.” Guess where you’ll find me when it comes to Seattle or a streaming service.
Join me for a look at another groundbreaking artist tomorrow…
