About the Exhibition

André Leon Gray combines and transforms found objects into visual critiques of contemporary society, fusing together a variety of materials to address specific aspects of culture and race. Maintain radio silence, the vulture has landed (2015), examines how pop culture—particularly hip hop music—renders some elements of of urban life appealing, even desirable, though rarely effecting true social change.  When describing this work Gray says, “A sharp resident of the suburbs may be able to recite a few lyrics by Wu-Tang, but is unlikely to invite a Five Percenter over for a glass of Sauvignon Blanc paired with salmon poached in parchment with homegrown garden herbs and white asparagus.”  

In fear of the wisdom that will be, most young kings get their head cut off, 2015
Acrylic and black gesso on canvas, The Southern Theory of Relativity rendered in colored pencil on chalkboard, wooden crutches, and crime scene tape found near NCCU

Maintain radio silence, the vulture has landed, 2015
Acrylic, white charcoal on chalkboard, antique transistor radio with its entrails exposed, chain, and Afropick mounted on a reclaimed sign from a law firm

I’m just gonna skate right on pass this s#!t, 2015
White charcoal, black gesso, paper collage, tarnished silver platter, raw cotton, wooden cigar box, and architectural scale model figure on found skateboard

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king, 2015
Tar on canvas

About the artist
André Leon Gray is a self-trained artist and a native of Raleigh, NC. His mixed media assemblages, sculptures, installations, paintings and drawings, known as eye gumbo, have been exhibited nationwide. Gray has received several awards and honors, including The Fountainhead Residency in Miami in 2011.