Derrick Adams
The Queen of Spades
2015
A complete portfolio of two pigment prints on Hotpress paper
38 × 29 cm
Ed. /18
Location: Clichy, France
Arianee token ID
873021809
Share by
Email
Documents
-
Invoice or proof of purchase
-
Certificate of authenticity
-
Other documents
About the artwork
The complete set of two pigment prints in colors, presented on Hotpress paper, forms a visual dialogue with Aleksandr Pushkin's 1834 novella "The Queen of Spades." Each print depicts a stylized, castle-like structure composed of brick patterns and glittered elements, suggesting both grandeur and a constructed reality. One print features a figure with a horned headdress and a locket, alongside a brassiere, while the other presents a profile view of a figure wearing a crown, also incorporating a brassiere. Flags bearing a spade motif are prominently displayed, directly referencing the playing card theme from Pushkin's narrative. The composition employs layered visual elements and a high-contrast, black and white palette, which emphasizes the work's formal structure and collage aspects. The inclusion of a brassiere introduces an element that comments on gender, presentation, or objectification. This work is part of Adams's broader exploration of identity, power, and cultural representation, using symbolism and collage to reframe archetypes and challenge traditional depictions.
Expert opinion
This work by Derrick Adams occupies a position within contemporary art that engages with identity politics and the recontextualization of historical narratives. Adams's multidisciplinary practice, which frequently incorporates collage and references to Black culture, aligns with broader art historical trends of artists challenging established canons and representations. The specific reference to Pushkin's "The Queen of Spades" allows for an intertextual engagement, bringing a classic literary work into conversation with contemporary visual concerns regarding representation and power dynamics. In the art market, Adams is a recognized figure, with his works consistently appearing at auction and in gallery exhibitions. His market presence is supported by institutional acquisitions and a growing collector base. While his unique paintings and larger mixed-media works achieve significant prices, his limited-edition prints offer a more accessible entry point into his oeuvre, maintaining value due to his established reputation and the thematic relevance of his practice.
About the artist
Derrick Adams, born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1970, is a multidisciplinary artist based in Brooklyn, New York. He earned his BFA from Pratt Institute in 1996 and an MFA from Columbia University in 2003. Adams's artistic practice encompasses painting, collage, sculpture, performance, video, and sound installations, exploring themes of Black identity, culture, and experience in contemporary life. His work often examines the influence of popular culture on self-image and the intersection of African American experiences with art history, American iconography, and consumerism. Adams is recognized for his "Floater" series, which depicts Black individuals at leisure, presenting respite as a political act. His formal approach is rooted in Deconstructivist philosophies, utilizing fragmentation, manipulation of structure, and the layering of images and materials, connecting him to artists such as Hannah Höch, Henri Matisse, William H. Johnson, and Romare Bearden. Adams has held numerous teaching positions and is currently a tenured associate professor at CUNY Brooklyn College. His work is included in the permanent collections of institutions such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Studio Museum in Harlem, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Additional info
3x
OTHER ARTWORKS YOU MAY LIKE
Your Dynamic Snippet will be displayed here...
This message is displayed because you did not provide both a filter and a template to use.