Number 76S 2019

Leonardo Drew created 'Number 76S' using wood and cotton, building a densely packed relief. The use of cotton immediately brings to mind the history of the United States and the enslaved people who were forced to cultivate it, and Drew uses abstraction to create an active engagement with this history. Drew was born in 1961 in Tallahassee, Florida, and grew up in Bridgeport, Connecticut. His work often incorporates discarded materials, referencing urban decay and transformation. He is self-consciously progressive and his assemblages often challenge conventional notions of beauty. Drew's work also invites viewers to consider the institutional context in which art is displayed. By presenting art that demands contemplation of difficult subjects, Drew challenges institutions such as museums and galleries to live up to their public role. To understand the full scope of his work, art historians often turn to archives, historical documents, and social theory. This multifaceted approach is key to unlocking the complex meanings embedded in art.