A Closer Look At

Few symbols capture the soul of America like the figure of Liberty herself. The nation was founded on the very premise of ‘liberty and justice for all.’

Yet, in his seminal painting Miss Liberty, Robert Colescott casts the words of our founding fathers in a new light, asking the question of what it means to be American, and how race and beauty factor into the equation.

Throughout his career, Colescott has tackled the topic of American identity with humor and candor, and Miss Liberty is one of his most ambitious and unblushing paintings. In it, Colescott reveals Miss Liberty – an African American woman, appearing jubilant and proud in a star-spangled sash. She appears a hopeful embodiment of racial equality, but a closer look exposes the flawed history Miss Liberty stands to represent.

The figure of Liberty is one of the most recognizable patriotic idols that Colescott could have identified to subvert. In doing so, Colescott urges the audience to encounter their own understanding of Black life in America. Through satire, humor, and a magnificently bold and visually arresting painting, Colescott opens the door to a serious dissection of the American psyche.

Robert Colescott's Miss Liberty is a museum-quality painting that demonstrates the artist's most compelling and celebrated visual tropes, projecting a resplendent vision in a symphony of colors that is at once hopeful and critical. The masterpiece remained in the same private collection since 1984 when it was purchased from the legendary Fountain Gallery of Art in Portland, Oregon, shortly after its creation. Now, it is on view for the first time since 1986 at Bonhams in Los Angeles.

Don't hesitate to reach out to reach out to kate.rosenheim@bonhams.com with any inquiries.