The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth presents "Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers," the artist's largest exhibition to date and his first major museum survey in over a decade. The show brings together nearly ninety works spanning Johnson's career, including painting, sculpture, film, installation, a site-specific piece, an outdoor sculpture, and live performances. Co-curated by Naomi Beckwith of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Andrea Karnes of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, the exhibition takes its title from a poem by Amiri Baraka and explores themes of race, masculinity, empathy, self-care, family, and emotional life.
This exhibition matters because it marks a significant milestone for Rashid Johnson, one of the most acclaimed contemporary artists of his generation, offering the first comprehensive survey of his multidisciplinary practice in more than ten years. The collaboration between the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and the Guggenheim New York underscores the institutional recognition of Johnson's work, which bridges art history with Black contemporary culture. The accompanying catalogue with contributions from scholars and artists further solidifies the exhibition's scholarly and cultural importance.