The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth Highlights Rashid Johnson

"We are excited to welcome visitors to Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers. This presentation, a rich collaboration between the artist and the exhibition curators, visually brings to life Johnson’s path to self-discovery from a young age and his deep personal and cultural reflections over the last thirty years. We are honored to partner with the Guggenheim New York in presenting this extraordinary exhibition." 

— Halona Norton-Westbrook, Ph.D.
Director, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

For nearly three decades, Rashid Johnson has cultivated a multidisciplinary approach to art-making while drawing upon art history, philosophy, literature, and music as conceptual frameworks. Over this time, Johnson has developed a distinct visual language that engages with central themes and questions that reflect on his story and contemporary life in general, such as race, masculinity, empathy for others, self-care, family, sobriety, and his own, and each of our inner emotional lives.

The exhibition’s title, A Poem for Deep Thinkers, takes its name from a poem by Amiri Baraka, an American poet, writer, teacher, and political activist whose work is a frequent source of inspiration for Johnson. Tracing Johnson’s trajectory from his early experiments in photography and video to his recent materially complex paintings and assemblages, this presentation brings together nearly ninety works spanning pivotal phases of the artist’s career. A site-specific installation, an outdoor sculpture, and two works activated through live performance are highlights within the exhibition.

A Poem for Deep Thinkers is co-curated by Naomi Beckwith, Deputy Director and Jennifer and David Stockman Chief Curator of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, New York, and Andrea Karnes, Chief Curator of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Texas, with additional support from Faith Hunter, Curatorial Assistant, Guggenheim New York.

“Rashid Johnson is a singular creative force whose work bridges art history with Black contemporary culture and culture at large, creating powerful spaces for reflection and dialogue. It has been a profound honor to work closely with Rashid, Naomi Beckwith, and the Guggenheim to bring this important exhibition to our community in Fort Worth.”

— Andrea Karnes
Exhibition Co-curator and Chief Curator, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

About the Artist
Born in Chicago in 1977, Rashid Johnson earned a BA in Photography from Columbia College in Chicago, followed by graduate studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he honed his multidisciplinary practice.

His work has been exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago; the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the Detroit Institute of Arts; the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; the Corcoran Museum of Art, Washington, D.C.; the Institute of Contemporary Photography, New York; the Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York; and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.

Publication
The exhibition catalogue includes an interview with artist Odili Donald Odita; an exploration of moving-image artworks by Kevin Quashie; an analysis of the affective and emotional landscapes of contemporary artists by Nana Adusei-Poku; reflections on transgression by Tiona Nekkia McClodden; contemplations on Johnson’s recent God paintings by Hendrik Folkerts; and essays by curators Naomi Beckwith and Andrea Karnes. The catalogue is available at the Modern Shop and online at www.shop.themodern.org.

Programs
Modern Exhibition Lecture Series
Rashid Johnson in conversation with Chief Curator Andrea Karnes, March 6, 6 pm. 
In addition to the artist’s talk, A Poem for Deep Thinkers will feature dynamic live performance programming in collaboration with community partners. The performance programs will include readings and literary connections, comedy, poetry, theater, music, and open mics, bringing the exhibition to life as a place for creative expressions and audience participation. Many of the Modern’s youth-focused educational opportunities will center on the exhibition A Poem for Deep Thinkers. The ongoing public events include special tours and drawing programs, our spring break events and summer camps, and partnerships for middle and high school students through Fort Worth ISD and local youth-serving agencies.

Details of performances, events, and educational programs will be announced at a later date; please visit www.themodern.org/calendar for additional information.

Support
Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers is made possible through lead support from the Crystelle Waggoner Charitable Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee, with additional support from the Texas Commission on the Arts; Jedel Family Foundation; Headington Companies and Forty Five Ten; the Fort Worth Promotion and Development Fund; Frost; Hauser & Wirth; Kim and Glenn Darden; Ben Ackerley and Hayden Hrncir; Shannon and Mark Hart; and Cindy and Howard Rachofsky.