July 12 - September 14, 2024
From HMAAC:
“The Houston Museum of African American Culture(HMAAC) Presents: “Phillip Pyle II: So Far So Good,” curated by Christopher Blay. Opening Reception is Friday, July 12 6 – 8PM with a press and member preview from 5 – 6PM. On view through September 14.
The Houston Museum of African American Culture is thrilled to present Phillip Pyle II: So Far So Good, a solo exhibition curated by HMAAC’s Chief Curator Christopher Blay.
Opening Reception is Friday, July 12 6 – 8PM with a press and member preview from 5 – 6PM. On view through September 14. “By blending photography, digital art,and performance, Pyle creates visually arresting pieces that challenge perception and the history we have been told. His works often juxtaposes historical and contemporary elements, creating a dialogue between the past and the present.”
While working with Phillip Pyle, II for this long-overdue survey of his work from 2012 – 2024, it became evident at the onset that for this artist in particular, it would make sense to “turn over the keys of the museum” to him, in a manner of speaking. His inventive use of design, humor, and craft is best revealed when untethered from the constraints of well-intentioned curatorial oversight. The organic and nimble impulses in his work are some of the many reasons Pyle was selected for an exhibition here at HMAAC. And although much of what has been included here has been part of Houston-Area exhibitions, there will still be some surprises and new ways of looking at older works in So Far So Good. -Christopher Blay, Chief Curator, HMAAC
ABOUT Phillip Pyle, II Phillip Pyle, II is a visual artist, photographer, and agitator based in Houston, Texas. Pyles primary interests are race, humor, advertising, sports, and popular culture. Mining imagery from sources diverse as mass consumer culture, contemporary advertising to ephemera, historical imagery, and hip-hop, Pyle introduces a complex vision that derives from a robust comedic foundation while also looking at the abstraction and transience of our values and beliefs. Pyle has interned for Congress, cut film at River Oaks Theatre, toured the south with a Punk Rock/Rap band, produced a sketch comedy show on Houston Public Media, and most recently received his MFA from the University of Houston. I find immense purpose in creating art that agitates, challenges, and disrupts. My work is a means of dismantling oppressive narratives, shedding light on injustice, and provoking conversations that might otherwise go unspoken. It's about amplifying the experiences of those who have been marginalized throughout history, reminding the world that our stories are both valid and essential. Making art to agitate is not merely an act of rebellion; it's an act of resilience and a catalyst for progress, serving as a call to action for a more inclusive and equitable future. ABOUT THE HOUSTON MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE The mission of HMAAC is to collect, conserve, explore, interpret, and exhibit the material and intellectual culture of Africans and African Americans in Houston, the state of Texas, the southwest and the African Diaspora for current and future generations. In fulfilling its mission, HMAAC seeks to invite and engage visitors of every race and background and to inspire children of all ages through discovery-driven learning. HMAAC is to be a museum for all people. While our focus is the African American experience, our story informs and includes not only people of color, but people of all colors. As a result, the stories and exhibitions that HMAAC will bring to Texas are about the indisputable fact that while our experience is a unique one, it has been impacted by and has impacted numerous races, genders and ethnicities. The museum continues to be a space where a multicultural conversation on race geared toward a common future takes place.”
Houston Museum of African American Culture
4807 Caroline St.
Houston, TX
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