Artist Derrick Adams' depictions of Black joy
At 56, Derrick Adams is widely regarded as one of the most important artists of his generation, known for capturing the Black experience in vibrant, kaleidoscopic colors.
He is by no means a minimalist. "Sometimes there's opportunities to be very minimal and still be impactful," he said. "And there's times where density is really important, if you're trying to create an immersive experience. There are so many different ways that I communicate.
"Using color is not because I like colorful things. It's really, like, color is more to activate a certain psychological response from the audience based on our association with certain colors, even sometimes when they don't even know why they're gravitating towards things."
Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Adams moved to New York for college, and to pursue a career as an artist. It wasn't long before he gained attention internationally for his signature style. Today, that palette drenches the interiors (and even exterior) of Boston's Institute of Contemporary Art, home to a mid-career retrospective of his work.
Throughout the space are joyous scenes of everyday life and leisure, like a work from his signature "Floater" series. "We study, like, the chaise lounge, and the figures in Renaissance laying on the chaise lounge," he said. "I was like, 'How could you do it in American pop style?' It would be more fun."
His art shows Black life in all its complexities. "And undisturbed," he said. "It's really more about what happens when you leave a Black person alone to do the things that we do."