The museum premiere of this major work by Renee Cox is on view now at the Boca Raton Museum Art.
On special loan from the artist, The Signing will continue to remain on view at the Museum through September of 2021.
In this witty and dramatic large-scale work, the artist interprets Howard Chandler Christy’s historical painting, Scene at The Signing of the Constitution of the United States. “It’s about time we re-imagine our own constitutions,” says Renee Cox.
In Renee Cox’s contemporary (and glamorous) twist, her 12-foot long photograph re-imagines women and men of color in the place of the Founding Fathers.
Her subjects are all decked out — some in current fashions, others in 1700s period clothing, and some wear dazzling African grab.
In describing her photography, Renee Cox states: “This work aims to unleash the potential of the ordinary and bring it into a new realm of possibilities.”
As Americans reckon with the future of the nation, and its history, the Boca Raton Museum of Art presents the museum premiere of The Signing, by Renee Cox.
The Signing was created on a grand scale and in the tradition of history painting,” said Kathleen Goncharov, Senior Curator, Boca Raton Museum of Art. “This is a revisionist look at one of America’s most historic events — the founding of the nation.
“The image brings to lights that although people of color did not participate in the signing of the Constitution, they have most certainly played important roles and made vital contributions to the building of this country.”
“Museum visitors are encouraged to acknowledge that people of color have been largely left out of history books,” adds Goncharov.
About The Artisit
Renee Cox is a photographer, artist, lecturer, and political activist who lives in New York and was born in Jamaica. She us a specialist in film and digital portraiture, using light, from digital technology, and he own signature style to capture the identities and beauty within her subjects.
