Faith Ringgold: American People

by Massimiliano Gioni (Editor), Gary Carrion-Murayari (Editor)

The most comprehensive survey to date of the work of Faith Ringgold, whose groundbreaking art and political activism span more than sixty years – featuring a stellar line-up of contributors and an unprecedented collection of images Faith Ringgold is a critically acclaimed American artist whose unique methods of visual storytelling have documented and advanced art historical, feminist, and civil-rights movements for more than half a century. Accompanying a major retrospective at the New Museum, New York, this expansive survey covers work from all periods of her career, including her early civil rights–era figurative paintings, her graphic political protest posters, and her signature experimental story quilts.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

240 pages, Hardcover

Published February 16, 2022

Reviews

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My local museum has an exhibit with this artist’s work on right now and I wanted to read the catalog before I attended. I figure when I get there I can view the art and not have to read as much of the accompanying text, at least not as carefully as I would have if I hadn’t read the book.

My favorite pieces by here are the ones that include many people and elaborate settings. I love the way she uses colors and shapes.

This is a text heavy book and is as much as social-culture book and biography as it is an art book, though a large number of her pieces are included in this book. There are many full page and even double page spreads. The design and layout of this book is great and I appreciate that so many of the pictures take up lots of space on the pages.

I enjoyed seeing the photos of the artist and her family.

I thought it was smart to include some artworks by other artists and how books/writers, social justice activists, past and then present were part of the narrative of this book.

Some of this artist’s work is rightly disturbing but much of it is joyful. I was familiar with less of it than I thought I would be. I loved some of the pieces new to me including newer pieces and I’m looking forward to seeing the art exhibit at the museum.

Contents:

Director’s Foreword
Hot from Her Soul: Faith Ringgold’s Art Activism
Early Works
Murals on 57th Street
American People
Faith
Black Light
The People’s Flag Show
Posters, For the Women’s House
For a Children’s Revolution
Feminist Series, Slave Rape, Windows of the Wedding, Dah, First Story Quilts
Inside and Outside the Museum
Soft Sculptures
Summoning Ancestors, Inspiring Descendent: Faith Ringgold and Literature
The Bitter Nest
In Conversation: A Retelling of Tar Beach
The Fantastical Alive
The Soft Library of Faith
Tar Beach and the New York Quilts
Dancing at the Louvre
The French Collection
Opening Doors: A Conversation with Faith Ringgold
The American Collection, Coming to Jonas Road Part 2
Works in Exhibition
Artist Biography
Contributor Biographies
Board of Trustees
Image Credits

Note: other contributors in addition to Massimiliano Gioni and Gary Carrion-Murayari are: Amiri Baraka, Diedrick Brackens, LeRonn P. Brooks, Julia Bryan-Wilson, Jordan Casteel, Bridget R. Cooks, Mark Godfrey, Lucy R. Lippard, Tschabalala Seif, Michele Wallace (Faith Ringgold’s daughter) and Zoé Whitley.

Even though the book was interesting I found myself speed reading at certain points but I did take some time to look up further information on the internet.

[Aurelia Littlepage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! I was introduced to Ringgold through her 2022 American People exhibition at the New Museum and this book is a great addition to the show. It gives an overview of Ringgold’s work with insightful essays by people who knew her. My favorite essay was by her daughter, Michelle Wallace, about The French Collection, my favorite series by Ringgold. I loved how she wove together her personal thoughts and insights on Ringgold’s work with family history and childhood memories.

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I wanted to record or rewrite the history of American art, because a lot of great American art had not been recorded properly. So many people and so many artists stumble upon history and don't think much about it and don't realize that there are entire parts of history that have been erased."

[Jodell Larimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historically artistically important