two black and white photographs matted and framed together; a (left) = ancient Egyptian sculpted portrait of a woman, seen from PL side--top of head not represented; b (right) = close-up portrait of dark-haired young woman with a serious expression, seen from PL side

Miscegenated Family Album (Sisters III), L: Nefertiti's daughter, Maketaten; R: Devonia's daughter, Kimberley, 1980/1994

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Drawn from her broader series titled “Miscegenated Family Album,” a project consisting of 16 diptychs in total, these four diptychs present a set of contrasts across time and media. Lorraine O’Grady’s “Sisters” makes a concise visual and intellectual case for Black self-identification across historical and geographical boundaries, elegantly elucidating the concept of Diasporic identity in discrete pairings. Through the juxtaposition of four ancient Egyptian busts (of female royalty) with re-photographed portraits of female members of O’Grady’s own 20th century American family (and herself), the artist imagines a case for the aristocratic lineage of the latter. Wordlessly inferring—and thereby conferring—the magisterial power of Nefertiti, her daughters, and her sister unto her own sister Devonia, her nieces, and herself, O’Grady collapses time to elevate the present.

Details
Title
Miscegenated Family Album (Sisters III), L: Nefertiti's daughter, Maketaten; R: Devonia's daughter, Kimberley
Artist Life
born 1934
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2021.21.3a,b
Curator Approved

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two black and white photographs matted and framed together; a (left) = ancient Egyptian sculpted portrait of a woman, seen from PL side--top of head not represented; b (right) = close-up portrait of dark-haired young woman with a serious expression, seen from PL side
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