Rashid Johnson

Rashid Johnson is an American contemporary artist born in 1977 in Chicago, Illinois. His work explores themes such as art history, individual and collective cultural identities, personal narratives, literature, philosophy, and critical history. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Photography from Columbia College Chicago and pursued graduate studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. ​ Whitney Museum of American Art Utilizing various media including photography, sculpture, painting, and video, Johnson often incorporates everyday and culturally charged objects like shea butter, soap, wax, and VHS tapes to investigate racial and cultural identity, African American history, and mysticism. He gained attention in 2001 when he participated in the "Freestyle" exhibition curated by Thelma Golden at the Studio Museum in Harlem. ​ Johnson's series such as "Anxious Men" and "Broken Men" reflect societal anxieties and personal concerns in contemporary society. Additionally, he has ventured into filmmaking by directing the adaptation of Richard Wright's novel "Native Son."