Hebru Brantley
Martha's Boys
2017
Color screen print on Mohawk Superfine UltraWhite paper
56 × 76 cm
Ed. /85 — Publisher: POP!nk Editions, Chicago
Location: PARIS, France
Arianee token ID
720995686
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About the artwork
Two young figures dressed in improvised superhero costumes stand back-to-back against a neutral background, wearing aviator goggles over their eyes. The figure on the left wears a blue tunic bearing a yellow emblem and a red cape reminiscent of classic comic book imagery, while the figure on the right is attired in a black bat-like cowl and cape. The title references both popular cinematic tropes regarding maternal identities in superhero narratives and the broader cultural context of youth navigating urban environments. Executed as a multi-layer hand-pulled screenprint, the composition employs saturated primary and secondary colours, clean outlines, and subtle textural marks across the paper surface.
Expert opinion
This limited edition print encapsulates the core iconographic tropes of the artist's output, translating mural and canvas techniques into a graphic edition format. By subverting traditional heroic archetypes through the depiction of minority youth, the work engages with contemporary dialogues concerning representation, popular mythology, and visual culture. Its positioning within the secondary market reflects the broader institutional and commercial integration of contemporary urban art movements.
About the artist
Hebru Brantley (born 1981 in Chicago) is an American artist whose practice centres on narrative-driven painting, sculpture, and installation. Emerging from the 1990s Chicago graffiti and street art community, he developed a distinctive visual vocabulary rooted in the aesthetics of comic books, anime, and historical African-American art movements such as AfriCOBRA. His signature characters, notably FlyBoy and Lil Mama, serve as recurring protagonists within an Afrofuturist framework that addresses themes of heroism, youth, and identity. Brantley's work has been exhibited widely in major metropolitan centers including Chicago, Miami, New York, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. His pieces are held in prominent private and corporate collections globally, including those of high-profile cultural figures and institutional holdings. He lives and works in Chicago, maintaining an active international exhibition profile.
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