Details:

This acrylic, marker, pen, and oil marker artwork—displayed in a clear plastic sleeve like comic books in a comic shop—was painted directly onto the cover of a real "Wonder Woman" comic. The artist has altered this comic to reflect the new title of the series, “White Women,” in the original style.
Unframed

① Artwork:

White Woman #134, Who is White?

This acrylic, marker, pen, and oil marker artwork—displayed in a clear plastic sleeve like comic books in a comic shop—was painted directly onto the cover of a real Wonder Woman comic. The artist has altered this comic to reflect the new title of the series, White Women, in the original style.

Satirically commenting on elements of present-day social justice movements, the central figure, a woman in high heels and a mini skirt, is painted over in white paint with red lettering on top of her body, asking the question: “Who is White?”

Kumasi J. Barnett’s art subverts and imbues the often timeless genre of old comic books with historical awareness and present-day social consciousness. Barnett frequently changes their narratives to reflect current events and critique social and political issues, such as police brutality, systemic racism, fake news, and the machinations of our political system.

Specs:

6.75 inches
10.25 inches

③ Artist:

Kumasi J. Barnett

Influenced by the aesthetics and narratives of old comic books, Kumasi J. Barnett’s art subverts and imbues this often timeless genre with historical awareness and present-day social consciousness. Barnett frequently paints directly over copies of comic books, changing their narratives to reflect current events and critique social and political issues, such as police brutality, systemic racism, fake news, and the machinations of our political system.

Kumasi J. Barnett was born in 1974 in Baltimore, MD, where he currently lives and works. He received his MFA from The Ohio State University.

His artworks have been exhibited at Lowell Ryan Projects, Los Angeles, CA; The Peale, Baltimore, MD; the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, Cape Town, South Africa; The Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, FL; and elsewhere.

Barnett presented a solo booth with Lowell Ryan Projects at The Armory Show (2020) in the Focus section, curated by Jamillah James. His work has been featured in Artforum, Ammo, Vibe, Hyperallergic, Huffington Post, Autre, Artnet News, and The Guardian, among others.

Kumasi J. Barnett:
White Woman #134, Who is White?, 2022
Acrylic, marker, pen and oil marker on comic book in clear plastic sleeve
10.3 × 6.8 inches /