Sunburst
Shinique Smith
Aluminum, paint
2021
Inspired by the image and symbolism of the Sun, artist Shinique Smith conceived Sunburst as a metaphor for the energy of the new solar-powered charging center at the Chicago – Austin bus turnaround.
Throughout history, the Sun has served humanity as a symbol of life, fortune, freedom, joy and re-birth. Smith’s sculpture of waterjet-cut aluminum, painted in varied gradient of red and sparkling golds, radiates warmth and energy, functioning as a talisman of light for this well-traveled corner and transit facility.
Shinique Smith is a painter and sculptor known for her monumental abstractions of calligraphy, fabric and collage that give emphasis to what the artist sees as "the graceful and spiritual qualities of the written word and the everyday." In her work Smith intertwines personal histories and belongings with thoughts of the vast nature of ‘things’ that we consume and discard, and the ways in which objects resonate on both an intimate and social scale.
Born in Baltimore, MD, currently residing in Los Angeles, California, Smith’s art works have been exhibited by and are in the permanent collections including The National Portrait Gallery, Washington, DC; The Studio Museum of Harlem; The Whitney Museum of American Art; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Baltimore Museum of Art; The Barnes Museum, Philadelphia; Brooklyn Museum of Art; Bronx Museum; Contemporary Art Center, New Orleans; Denver Art Museum; Kemper Museum; Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Minneapolis Art Institute.
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