Contemporary art and "post-black" identity politics

Unrestricted This thesis will interrogate how identity politics, particularly as it pertains to black identity, has evolved from taking on an activist stance to a more nuanced position. By historically tracking exhibitions that address identity politics from the 1990s to 2001, this text will discuss and theorize the term “post-black art” and how the term is reflected in the contemporary discussion of identity politics. This thesis explores three exhibition case studies that each address the complexity and fragmentation of race through the lens of contemporary visual art. By providing a historical analysis that explores art historical legacies of specific artists’ practices, curatorial initiatives, cultural theory and the space of the museum, this investigation seeks to locate the current discussions surrounding Black identity and identity politics in contemporary art.