Over the last two decades, Sanford Biggers (b.1970) has developed a singular body of work deeply informed by American history and traditions, and their intersection with urban culture, sacred geometry, and abstracted symbolism. Biggers’ famous Codex series—mixed-media paintings and sculptures done directly on or made from pre-1900 antique quilts—draws from the long-debated narrative that during the 19th century, quilts doubled as signposts along escape routes of the Underground Railroad. Although the artist’s work begins with textiles more than a century old, their unusual yet exuberant color palettes and graphic compositions convey an urban pop sensibility that is distinctly contemporary.
Biggers’ mural design for the Ninth Street courts will build upon his past textile artworks and take inspiration from the unique cultural histories of the neighborhood’s past and present communities.
My HomeCourt 2023: Sanford Biggers is curated by Jamilee Lacy, Executive Director of the Frye Art Museum and Former Director/Chief Curator of Providence College Galleries.
