NEW Feature | Simone Leigh, Brick House, 2019
NEW Feature | Simone Leigh, Brick House, 2019
Welcome to Artobiography – your go-to source for the stories and insights behind the world's most captivating art.
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If you traveled on 10th Avenue in New York City between June 2019 and May 2021, you would have surely come face to face with a large bronze bust as you approached the Lincoln Tunnel. I was in the area a lot during that time, and I always wondered about the sculpture.
The Artist: Simone Leigh
Simone Leigh, a prominent figure in today's contemporary art world, is an artist with a remarkable story, who merges art with deep cultural roots and an innovative spirit.
Born in Chicago in 1967, Leigh got her start in ceramics and sculpture at Earlham College in Indiana. It was there, during her studies of African and African American art and history, that Leigh began to explore identity and cultural narratives.
Source: PBS NewsHour
Moving to New York City was a turning point for Leigh. Immersing herself in the city's vibrant art scene, she carved out a unique voice that addressed race, beauty, and cultural identity.
Leigh's artistic journey is not just about creating art. It's about the power of exploring and embracing one's heritage and identity. Her works challenge us to deepen our understanding of cultural narratives and give voice to marginalized communities.
Leigh's art, often grand in scale and crafted from earthy materials like clay, bronze, and raffia, does more than just catch the eye. It is full of meaning. Each piece reflects her ongoing exploration into the lives and legacies of Black women, influenced by African art, American folk traditions, and feminist discourse.
Image Credit: Olly Yung / Matrons & Mistresses
At the core of Leigh’s work is a poignant commentary on the oppression of Black women. Through her art, she brings to light their enduring struggles, strength, and resilience, drawing inspiration from Black feminist theory. Her sculptures, while beautiful, carry a deeper symbolic meaning.
One of Leigh's distinctive artistic choices is the absence of eyes in female figures. This deliberate exclusion symbolizes the historical invisibility and omission of Black women's experiences, stories, and contributions. By removing this vital feature, Leigh emphasizes the ways Black women have been marginalized and overlooked throughout history.
2022 was a huge year for Leigh. She was chosen to represent the United States at the 59th Venice Biennale. Her exhibition, a powerful exploration of Black female subjectivity, received widespread acclaim for its compelling representation and poignant storytelling. This recognition, alongside other accolades like the Hugo Boss Prize in 2018, solidified her status as a significant figure in the contemporary art world.
The Art: Brick House
Simone Leigh’s Brick House merges architectural brilliance with profound cultural narratives. At the heart of this creation is the transformation of architectural elements, specifically the teleuk dwellings of the Mousgoum people of Cameroon and Chad, into the embodiment of a Black woman.
Image Credit: Matthew Marks Gallery
The sculpture draws upon various architectural styles, including Batammaliba architecture from Benin and Togo, the teleuk dwellings, and Mammy's Cupboard restaurant in Natchez, Mississippi. Leigh's research on African art and architecture influenced her to use everyday objects like houses, jugs, pots, and spoons to represent the bodies of Black women in her work.
Image: Mammy's Cupboard Restaurant, Natchez, Mississippi
Standing at 16 feet tall, Brick House is a monumental tribute to the strength and grace of Black women. The sculpture, notable not only for its smooth eyes, but also the missing ears, invites us to pause and reflect. It challenges viewers to contemplate the landscapes we inhabit and how they mirror our society, our values, and our priorities.
Leigh's work combines a respect for Black women with perspectives from Black feminism, African and African American diasporic histories, art history, anthropology, architectural history, and European colonialism.
Image Credit: Michelle Gustafson/The New York Times
In the context of art history, Brick House reclaims space for Black women, honoring their resilience and beauty while ensuring their stories receive deserved space and recognition.
On Display Now
Simone Leigh’s work can currently be found at the following exhibition:
Shared Visions
Jordan Schnitzer Museum Of Art (Eugene | Oregon | USA)
Jun 01, 2023 - Feb 25, 2024Simone Leigh
Hirshhorn Museum And Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution (National Mall | Washington D.C. | District Of Columbia | USA)
Nov 03, 2023 - Mar 03, 2024Surrealism And Us: Caribbean And African Diasporic Artists Since 1940
Modern Art Museum Of Fort Worth (Ft. Worth | Texas | USA)
Mar 10, 2023 - Jul 28, 2024
Art-Inspired Products
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Sources:
Brown, J., & Davenport, A. A. (2024, January 11). Simone Leigh’s work explores how Black women have been misrepresented in art and culture. PBS NewsHour. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/simone-leighs-work-explores-how-black-women-have-been-misrepresented-in-art-and-culture
Deng, C. (2024, January 1). Simone Leigh | Biography, Art, Brick House, Sovereignty, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Simone-Leigh
Greenberger, A. (2020, October 19). How Simone Leigh’s Sculptures Centering Black Women Brought Her to the Venice Biennale. ARTnews.com. https://www.artnews.com/feature/simone-leigh-who-is-she-why-is-she-famous-1234574361/
Robinson, S. (2023, December 5). The world is running to catch up with Simone Leigh. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/the-world-is-running-to-catch-up-with-simone-leigh-180983366/
Simone Leigh: Acts of Transformation. (n.d.). https://www.nga.gov/stories/simone-leigh-acts-of-transformation.html
The High Line. (2021, May 26). Brick House. https://www.thehighline.org/art/projects/simoneleigh/
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