99% NO.93 Super Fat Man 2013

Curator: This is Sedrick Huckaby's "99% NO.93 Super Fat Man," a striking drawing in the Harvard Art Museums' collection. It’s a rather small work, only about 5 by 3 inches. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the figure's posture, almost defiant. The charcoal strokes are so raw and immediate, conveying a powerful sense of presence. Curator: It's interesting that you mention the raw strokes. Huckaby often explores themes of identity and community through his art, and I wonder how that factors in. Editor: Absolutely. The figure, rendered with such directness, feels like a statement against erasure, a celebration of a Black, male presence. The tilt of his head and hand on his hat convey dignity. Curator: I agree, and this work’s place in the collection gives it an afterlife. It’s a political act in some ways. Editor: Exactly. It becomes part of the ongoing conversation about representation and power, even in such a small, intimate format. Curator: It’s certainly given me a new perspective. Editor: Me too. It's a potent reminder of art's capacity to amplify marginalized voices.