Flex 2019

Monica Ikegwu made this painting, titled "Flex," in the twenty-first century using acrylic on canvas. It depicts a Black man dressed in luxury casualwear against a quilted purple backdrop. The material trappings of status that the man displays point to a complex relationship between consumer culture, personal identity, and the history of Black representation. We might ask how this image both affirms and challenges the stereotypes of Black masculinity that have circulated in American popular culture. What is the "flex" happening here? Is the image a celebration of personal success, or a critique of materialism? To understand "Flex," we can research the artist's biography and statements, as well as look at other examples of contemporary portraiture by Black artists. We can also investigate the cultural history of fashion, status symbols, and pose in the Black community. Art historians play a crucial role in helping viewers understand the social and cultural context that gives meaning to works of art.