RECOGNIZE!
Hip Hop and Contemporary Portraiture
Grandmasterflash and the Furious Five
Since its inception in the late 1970s, hip hop has become hugely influential in America. While images of hip hop performers are as pervasive in our culture as the music itself, some visual artists have created powerful images that both celebrate and explore the complexity of this creative form. The six artists and one poet whose work is included in RECOGNIZE! have approached hip hop culture through the lens of portraiture, and, in combination, their contributions highlight its vitality and beauty. Hip hop has inspired people throughout its history to use their minds
and their talent to create something larger than simply themselves.
Whether they have found expression DJ-ing, MC-ing, break-dancing, or
art-making, hip hop has given voice and visibility to a new generation. The exhibition will close on October 26, 2008.
The National Portrait Gallery is conveniently located at Eighth and F
Streets, NW, in Washington D.C., above the Gallery Place–Chinatown
Metrorail station (red, yellow, and green lines).
Museum Hours:
11:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m. daily.
Admission: FREE
