The Shape of Power - Stories of Race and American Sculpture

A major new survey of American sculpture, exploring how it both reflects and redefines concepts of race and identity in the United StatesWhen viewing a sculpture, how quickly do we tend to assign race to the subject? The three-dimensional qualities of sculpture give it a distinct advantage over other art forms in capturing a subject-s likeness, and our minds can swiftly conjure a body and racialize it from the most minimal of prompts. The Shape of Power examines American sculpture from the mid-nineteenth century to today, showing how this medium gives physical form to racist ideas and has shaped how generations have learned to visualize and think about race. Exploring the relationship between sculpture and ideas about race in the United States, this book provides fresh perspectives on artists ranging from Hiram Powers, Edmonia Lewis, and Augusta Savage to Barbara Chase-Riboud, Titus Kaphar, Raven Halfmoon, Sanford Biggers, Betye Saar, Yolanda L-pez, and Simone Leigh. It reveals how scu