Personal Histories

Historical narratives tend to highlight key events in a nation’s history. The fate of a country’s leaders, wars won or lost, and other transformative national events are enshrined as “official” history, while the struggles and successes of minorities and less influential groups often remain forgotten or in the margins.The artists in this installation–including Laylah Ali, William Cordova, Titus Kaphar, Whitfield Lovell, and Kara Walker–chart alternative narratives. All works in Personal Histories are drawn from SAM’s collections.Uncle Thomas, 2008, Titus Kaphar, American, b. 1976, tar on paper, 48 x 36in. (121.9 x 91.4cm), Seattle Art Museum, Contemporary Art Support Fund, 2009.31. © Titus Kaphar, Photo courtesy of Roberts & Tilton, Culver City, CA.

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