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For over three decades, Joyce J. Scott has been creating objects of exceptional skill and beauty while offering her own distinctive commentary on social issues such as stereotyping, violence, and the prejudice that we all confront at some point in our lives. A person of amazing versatility, Scott is a sculptor, jeweler, printmaker, performance artist, and educator, and her influences, from African and Native American experiences to comic books, television, and other venues of popular American culture, are as wide ranging as her media.

The foundation of Scott's art is craft. Though she often mixes materials—ceramic, glass, cloth, and metal—beads are prevalent in her work: a glittering, beaded surface is a signature element of her oeuvre. If her subject matter is sometimes harsh, it is leavened by her wry humor and masterly technique.

This 30-year retrospective of 60 works created since 1970 includes sculpture, jewelry, prints, and textiles as well as videos and photographs of Scott's performance and installation work, making for an excellent overview of her varied and potent artistic career. An expanded version of this exhibition was originally mounted in 2000 as a collaboration between the Maryland Institute College of Art and the Baltimore Museum of Art, where it was a great critical and popular success. Available now for a national tour, Kickin' It with Joyce J. Scott is a visually dazzling and intellectually challenging retrospective of the work of an important American artist.

Please note: Some of the materials in this exhibition may be considered problematic for some audiences. The exhibition contains mature themes, including references to sexuality and racism, and exhibitors should thoroughly review the content to adequately prepare audiences and plan programming strategies. Please contact us for further information about specific themes, subject matter, and content.