RICO GATSON (b. 1966, Augusta, GA) lives and works in New York.
Rico Gatson’s paintings, sculpture, and videos investigate complex issues relating to identity and race. He takes a narrative approach to 20th century American and African American history, interweaving a series of sources and events into a shifting landscape of ideas that knowingly uses iconic figures, symbols, shapes and images. Integrated with activist figures are references to fractal geometry, African textiles, drumming and chanting, edgy 60’s film culture, psychedelia, Hurricane Katrina and President Bush.
Gatson’s work has been exhibited at Greater New York 2005, P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, Long Island City, NY; African Queen, The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York; and Fight or Flight, Whitney Museum of American Art at Altria, New York. His videos have recently been shown at the New York Center for Art and Media Studies, New York; the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid; and the Bronx River Arts Center, New York, among others.
Gatson is represented by Ronald Feldman Fine Arts in New York.