Collection in Focus: The Reach of Faith Ringgold
Tschabalala Self, Sprewell, 2020. Acrylic paint, denim jeans, fabric, painted paper, newsprint, wood block print, transfer print with gel medium, felt-tip pen, and thread on canvas 84 1/8 ×72 1/4 ×2 1/4 in.(213.7 ×183.5 ×5.7 cm). Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, Gift, Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Zurich and New York, and the artist2021.3© Tschabalala Self.Photo: Hyla Skopitz
(NEW YORK, NY) The Guggenheim New York presents the Collection in Focus exhibition centering one of the most important works by the renowned artist, writer, and activist Faith Ringgold. The Reach of Faith Ringgold will spotlight Woman on a Bridge #1 of 5: Tar Beach (1988), the first in a series of five monumental quilts that tells the story of a young girl who soars from her Harlem rooftop, celebrating her own freedom and self-possession. Looking to one key work, the exhibition explores Ringgold’s critical position in the canon of art history, building off the modernists who preceded her, and inspiring those who followed.
Marking the Guggenheim’s first presentation of Woman on a Bridge #1 of 5: Tar Beach (1988), The Reach of Faith Ringgold will investigate her artistic forerunners and the lasting impact she has had on subsequent generations of artists. Tar Beach will be contextualized within the broader narrative of modern and contemporary art through works from the Guggenheim New York’s collection and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. The exhibition will include pieces by modernists such as Marc Chagall, Jacob Lawrence, and Pablo Picasso, who preceded or were contemporaries of Ringgold, and contemporary American artists such as Sanford Biggers, Tschabalala Self, Mickalene Thomas, and Carrie Mae Weems whose work reflects her legacy.
Jacob Lawrence, Tragedy and Comedy,1952. Tempera on masonite,24 ×30 in.(61 ×76.2 cm).Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, Gift, Elizabeth R. and Michael M. Rea Collection2023.45 © 2025 Artist Rights Society(ARS), New York. Photo: Ariel Ione Williams
“Ringgold left an indelible imprint on the art world through her practice and activism,” states Naomi Beckwith, Deputy Director and Jennifer and David Stockman Chief Curator, “and she also activated millions of children’s imaginations through her contributions as an author. The Guggenheim New York is utterly thrilled to center one of Ringgold’s iconic artworks, which was the subject of one of her award-winning books, in an exhibition that is sure to delight our visitors of every age.”
Another highlight of this exhibition is a painting by Jacob Lawrence, Tragedy and Comedy (1952), the first work by the artist acquired by the Guggenheim and one of the earliest modernist works by a Black artist in its collection. This exhibition marks its debut at the Guggenheim.
Ringgold is known for her distinctive artistic technique that blends a variety of media and styles, most famously through her “story quilts.” She often combines painting, fabric, and quilting, resulting in a unique fusion of fine art and craft. Ringgold paints her scenes onto large, quilted canvases using bold colors, intricate patterns, and layered textures. The quilts themselves are not only visually striking but are deeply symbolic, reflecting the African American tradition of storytelling through fabric. The process involves hand stitching and sewing, a craft historically associated with women and often tied to cultural heritage, which Ringgold reinvents to explore themes about race, identity, gender, and history.
Sanford Biggers, Poly, 2023.Antique quilt and fabric,90 ×51 ×6 1/2 in.(228.6 ×129.5 ×16.5 cm).Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, Purchased with funds contributed by the Young Collectors Council and the International Directors’ Council, with additional funds contributed by an anonymous donor 2023.87© Studio Sanford Biggers. Courtesy of the artist and Marianne Boesky Gallery, New York and Aspen.Photo: Ariel Ione Williams
In addition to quilting, Ringgold employs painting and collage, incorporating text and imagery to narrate ends. Her style draws from both folk art and modernist traditions, bringing together abstraction with figurative elements. Ringgold’s work is influenced by her desire to merge art with activism, offering social commentary on issues like civil rights, feminism, and the African American experience. This blend of techniques allows her to create powerful visual statements that engage viewers both emotionally and intellectually. In
The Reach of Faith Ringgold, visitors will have the opportunity to see the museum’s permanent collection, speaking to Ringgold’s unique position in the history of American art.
Photo: Faith Ringgold, Woman on a Bridge #1 of 5: Tar Beach, 1988. Acrylic paint, canvas, printed fabric, ink, and thread, 74 5/8 × 68 1/2 in.(189.5 × 174 cm). Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York Gift, Mr. and Mrs. Gus and Judith Leiber 88.3620 © 2025 Anyone Can Fly Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo: Ariel Ione Williams
This exhibition is the third installment in a new exhibition series, Collection in Focus. The series is part of a reinvigorated effort to make the Guggenheim’s world-renowned holdings more accessible to the public.
The Reach of Faith Ringgold is organized by Naomi Beckwith, Deputy Director and Jennifer and David Stockman Chief Curator.
About Faith Ringgold
(b. 1930, New York; d. 2024, Englewood, New Jersey) earned a bachelor’s degree from City College of the City University of New York in 1955 and a master’s degree from City College in 1959. Her artwork resides in over fifty prominent public collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Museum of Modern Art, New York; Brooklyn Museum, New York; Philadelphia Museum of Art; Smithsonian Institute of Art, Washington, DC; Baltimore Museum of Art; High Museum of Art, Atlanta; Newark Museum; Art Institute of Chicago; and St. Louis Art Museum. Her achievements as an artist, teacher, author, and activist have been recognized with numerous honors, including the National Endowment for the Arts awards in sculpture and in painting; a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship; an NAACP Image Award; a Caldecott Honor; a Peace Corps Award bestowed by former President Barack Obama; and 16 honorary doctorates.
Support
Visionary support for Collection in Focus is provided by Aleksandra Janke and Andrew McCormack.
The Leadership Committee for The Reach of Faith Ringgold is gratefully acknowledged for its generosity, with special thanks to Laura Clifford.
About the Guggenheim New York
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation was established in 1937 and is dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of modern and contemporary art through exhibitions, education programs, research initiatives, and publications. The international constellation of museums includes the Guggenheim New York; the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice; Guggenheim Bilbao; and the future Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. An architectural icon and “temple of spirit” where radical art and architecture meet, the Guggenheim New York is now among a group of eight Frank Lloyd Wright structures in the United States recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Exhibition: Collection in Focus: The Reach of Faith Ringgold will be at the Guggenheim New York location at 1071 Fifth Avenue, New York, Tower Level 4, Mapplethorpe Gallery, and will open May 9 through September 14, 2025. To learn more about the museum, this exhibit, past exhibits, current exhibits, upcoming exhibits, and the Guggenheim’s activities around the world, visit here. The museum can also be found on YouTube, TikTok, X, Facebook and Instagram.
