Known for his sublime weaving of personal history and iconography, Radcliffe Bailey displays much of himself within the celebrated works he creates. In this Untitled piece, Bailey has provided a story for the viewers that harkens back to his own ancestry while also reflecting both American and African heritage symbolism. Created using a photograph of a distant family member as the central point, Bailey surrounds this with colors chosen based on the favorite pigments used by his grandfather when building his distinct birdhouses. Swirling designs echo the traditional art of blacksmithing that was widely practiced by African slaves in America as numerology floats throughout the composition, identifying the subject’s African country of origin. Below the photograph sits a brightly painted heart, anchoring the subject and resolutely proclaiming her purity.
For me, it’s helpful to remember your tracks.
Radcliffe Bailey
