Atlanta-based artist Rial Rye presents his new exhibition “Son of a Griff” at the Lyndon House Arts Center, exploring biracial identity through vibrant, highly saturated works made with nostalgic children’s toys. In a Q&A with Flagpole, Rye explains how he uses bright colors and familiar playthings to address difficult subjects like race, history, and belonging, drawing on his own family’s past—including ancestors labeled as “griffs” in Census records—and referencing Thomas Jefferson’s enslaved mistress Sally Hemings. The exhibition opens June 18 with a reception from 5:30–7:30 p.m.
The exhibition matters because it uses accessible, childlike materials to invite viewers into a nuanced conversation about biracial identity, historical trauma, and the reclamation of derogatory language. Rye’s work challenges audiences to look beyond surface-level cheerfulness and confront the complex realities of race in America, while also offering a personal narrative that connects contemporary identity struggles to generations of mixed-race ancestry. The show exemplifies how contemporary art can engage with social issues in unexpected, emotionally resonant ways.