African American Abstraction

African American Abstraction | City Gallery East

2000

The group exhibition showcased a vibrant collection of works by national and local artists, including notable figures such as Frank Bowling, Mildred Thompson, Joe Overstreet, Vandorn Hinnant, Freddie Styles, Jerald Ieans, Lance Lamont, Attiya Melton, and Michael Scoffield. These diverse artworks delved into the exploration of nonobjective space, manifested through a blend of paintings and sculpture.

Among the notable pieces is Mildred Thompson's, "Music of the Spheres", a mesmerizing trio of expansive three-panel paintings from 1996. In this work, Thompson masterfully captured the essence of physical phenomena, translating them into a symphony of vibrant colors—energetic bursts and sweeping streaks of red, yellow, and orange that dance across the canvas. This exhibition is particularly significant as it marks the inaugural juxtaposition of the works of Frank Bowling and Mildred Thompson, inviting viewers to contemplate the rich dialogues between their artistic perspectives.