For many years, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art’s Wisconsin Triennial has served as one of the state’s premiere art exhibits, with artists selected to, as the museum has boasted, “personify the scope of what’s going on in the state.” Perhaps unintentionally, the 2022 Triennial has lived up to that mission by embodying institutional racism. After black woman artist Lilada Gee was barred from entering the building, her art vandalized and portions of it stolen, 17 Triennial artists withdrew their work in protest over Gee’s treatment and the museum’s response. The Triennial exhibit officially closed on October 9. In previous years, the Museum has held gala closing events – not this year. Triennial artists, through the collective FWD:truth , instead held their own event and protest outside the museum’s doors. Monday Buzz host Brian Standing caught up with artist and organizer Portia Cobb and “Ain’t I a Woman” curator Fatima Laster on Sunday, October 9, 2022.
All photos by Brian Standing. Used with permission.
