Style Variation 4 (Beard)

Gallery Purchase during the ArtMate GiveCampus Campaign with contributions from, Tsega-Ab Abera ‘22, Malu Alvarez ‘02, Jane Avinger, Jennifer Azara, Susan Baik and Prem Manjooran ‘92, Claire S. Begalla ‘24, Blake Botelho ‘22, Lillian Byer ‘23, Chilton Cabot ‘22, Elizabeth Chidsey ‘83, Susan J. Cooke and Dick Cooke, Kevin Cook ‘09, John Corso-Esquivel, Joelle Dietrick, Dan Drayer, Amy Elkin, Cara Evanson, Susan Fisher, Whitney Durham Franklin, Sohan K. Gade ‘23, Catherine Grant ’01 and Carter Grant ‘01, Katherine Hall ’16 and Andrew Slade ‘16, Elizabeth Harry ’14 and Tyler McGee ‘12, George Hunter ‘23, Sarah Jackson ‘22, Caitlin James ‘14, Molly Johnson ’94, Luke A. Jordan ‘10, Amy King ‘97, Jamie Knowles ‘10, Rosaline Kyo, Julia Lau ‘22, Kaye-Lani Laughna, Molly H. Lewis, Nan and Bill Loftin ‘81, Joseph P. Logan ‘77, Frank Lord ‘89, John MacMahon ‘95, Brad Martin, Antoinette McCorvey, Daniel Francis Mclawhorn ’70 and Rob Hazelgrove, President Carol E. Quillen and George McLendon, Janice Gaylena Merritt and Kevin Head, Linsey Mills ‘92 and Michelle Serrano ‘90, Sherry Nelson, Virginia E. Newell ‘78, Lia Rose Newman, Marian M. Nisbet, Eileen O’Flaherty, Marisa J Pascucci and Joe Fauceglia, Rose Ann and Victor Pascucci, Elena Paul ‘85, Megan T. Pottenger ‘19, Jeffrey Prince and Michael Jolly, Giselle Meza Reyes ‘22, Susan D. Ross and Thomas Ross ‘72, Lauren Sanford '03, Cort Savage, John Angus Sillars ‘86, William Sjogren, Miki and Tyler Starr, Jennifer Stasack, Brad Thomas, Sandra von Unwerth, Jacqueline LeDonne von Unwerth and Matthew von Unwerth, Maria Vasconcelos, Tyler Wilson ‘14, Eleanor Young ’99, and anonymous donors.

Derrick Adams is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice is dedicated to exploring the connection between identity and visual language through texture, color, and symbolism. Across a variety of mediums including painting, performance, sculpture, and printmaking, he embraces pop culture and references art historical movements such as Dadaism and Cubism as well as traditional West African masks and sculpture. His compositions are collages of layered images and materials, creating fragmented structures.

Style Variations is a series of paintings and prints of which Adam’s describes the purpose as: "I feel more than ever that it is essential for artists to make work that celebrates Black culture. As a Black man, I am aware of my vulnerability and susceptibility to trauma and oppression on a daily basis. I personally don’t need to be reminded of it in art and choose to instead highlight Black normalcy. Those who participate in Black culture understand there are images that are less important for us to see than images of joy.” This series celebrates Black men and women through confident, knowing stares and unique self-expressions of style.

Van Every/Smith Galleries Blog: SEEN ON CAMPUS: STYLE VARIATION 4 (BEARD) by Rory Mullis ’26