Derek Fordjour in Conversation with Jennie Goldstein | Live from the Whitney

Derek Fordjour’s paintings depict vibrant scenes that subtly address themes of race, systemic inequality, and aspiration, particularly within the context of American identity. For the billboard on the façade of 95 Horatio Street, Fordjour created "Half Mast," a work that reflects on the current national reckoning with mass shootings and the relentless threat of violence against Black and Brown bodies.
The artist speaks with Jennie Goldstein, Assistant Curator, about the development of his studio practice, his engagement with diverse influences from Americana and Pop to his Ghanaian roots, and how painting can respond to contemporary American experience.
Derek Fordjour is a New York-based artist and educator of Ghanaian heritage. His work is held in several collections throughout the United States and Europe, including the Studio Museum of Harlem, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Dallas Museum of Art. Fordjour received the Deutsche Bank NYFA Fellowship Award in 2018 and was a recent resident of the Sharpe Walentas Studio Program in New York City. He frequently serves as a lecturer at numerous institutions and as a Core Critic at Yale University School of Art.

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Excellent conversation