The First Monograph to Survey Derrick Adams’ Career Comes Ahead of a Major Exhibition

In his vibrant portrayals of family gatherings, bustling urban streets, and intimate individual portraits, Derrick Adams pays tribute to Black identity and experiences. His collage-style works draw inspiration from West African masks, carved sculptures, and reliquary figures, capturing the essence of contemporary leisure activities and everyday moments for Black Americans.

Monicelli’s new monograph offers an extensive look at over twenty years of Adams’ geometric artworks, executed in his striking signature style featuring bold colors and faceted designs. The book, titled Derrick Adams, is the first comprehensive examination of his artistic journey, showcasing his stylistic growth and recurring themes in his work. According to the publisher, his pieces encapsulate “moments of joy, resilience, and celebration.”

The monograph is divided into three sections—Channeling, Signaling, and Mirroring—each examining the artist’s investigations of representation, identity, and visual media. The evolution of his unique visual language, described as “seriocomic imagery,” reflects his ambition to portray Black American experiences in art, attempting to address the scarcity of such representations in art history, as highlighted by the publisher. “At its essence, Adams’s project seeks to revitalize the representation of Black figures in art, an aim that resonates throughout the works displayed in this book.”

The release of Derrick Adams coincides with a mid-career exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. Titled View Finder, this exhibition opens on April 16 and will feature 150 of the artist’s works.

Derrick Adams is set to launch on October 22. Secure your copy through the Colossal Shop, and delve deeper into Adams’ work via his website and Instagram.