Jeffrey Spencer Hargrave : Martin Luther King: I Have A Dream

Ethan Cohen Gallery is pleased to present I Have A Dream, an online exhibition of Jeffrey Spencer Hargrave’s portraits of Martin Luther King Jr. This exhibition commemorates Martin Luther King’s legacy. In this time of healing of our nation, we think of how Martin Luther King stood for the ideal of all Americans, to try to make a better society for all people.

Jeffrey Spencer Hargrave was inspired by Martin Luther King, his dream, and his legacy to create this series of work that we share with you today in honor of Martin Luther King day, which celebrates his 92nd birthday this year. This day comes with apt timing, marking a period of transition, healing, and hope, and the stamping out of the negativity that surrounded our nation for the past four years. This series of works by Jeffrey Hargrave celebrates Martin Luther King, the power of his legacy, and his dream of a better tomorrow.

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JEFFREY HARGRAVE

1973 born in Salisbury, N.C

Jeffrey Hargrave is a North Carolina born, African-American artist based in New York. Hargrave deals with representations of African-Americans, often putting them in the context of art history, remaking works by artists such as Matisse to include black figures, with racially charged stereotypical imagery. Tapping into his own memories of growing up in the midst of a sharply divided community, Hargrave translates his personal experiences into playful, yet biting images that mix art-history clichés and racial stereotypes. Ultimately, the artist seeks to engage viewers in a dialogue on class, religion, sexuality, racial identity, and privilege based on a repertoire of familiar images. Hargrave attended the University of the North Carolina School of the Arts, Rhode Island School of Design, and Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. His works have been exhibited at the Bronx Museum of the Arts, and other prestigious venues.