Rico Gatson, Shirley #3, 2023; Signed and Numbered Limited Edition Print

Rico Gatson is a multimedia visual artist whose practice explores themes of history, identity, popular culture, and spirituality. Over the course of nearly two decades, he has been celebrated for politically layered artworks inspired by significant moments in Black history, such as the Watts Riots, the formation of the Black Panther, and the election of President Barack Obama. Spanning across sculpture, painting, video, and public art, Gatson’s works have been exhibited at esteemed venues both domestically and internationally, and can be found in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.; The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York; the Denver Art Museum, Denver; the Kempner Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City; and the Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven. In 2019, the artist completed a large commission for MTA Arts and Design, comprising eight large-scale mosaics that are permanently installed in the Bronx.

Shirley #3 celebrates the inspiring life of its titular figure, Shirley Chisholm, who combated racism and sexism to become elected as the first Black woman in Congress, as a representative of New York, in 1968. Born in Brooklyn, she was also the first to seek the nomination from one of the two major political parties during the 1972 presidential election, prior to co-founding the National Congress of Black Women in 1984. Gatson’s work features graphic, linear rays of bold color that emanate from a photograph of Chisholm, in which she holds and speaks into a microphone. The composition places her as a clear focal point in the middle of the pictorial plane, emphasizing the sheer power of a figure who defied the status quo to enact great societal change. 

Rico Gatson
Shirley #3, 2023
Archival pigment print
24 x 36 inches

Limited edition of 20 with 5AP + 1PP
Signed and numbered by the artist

On his participation, Gatson notes: "Shirley #3”, 2023, a limited edition print produced by ART FOR CHANGE, pays tribute to the trailblazing Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress and the first woman to seek the Democratic nomination for president. This artwork not only honors Chisholm’s legacy of breaking barriers and advocating for equality but also supports the mission of When We All Vote, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing voter participation. As the 2024 Presidential Election approaches, When We All Vote plays a crucial role in mobilizing voters to ensure a fair and representative democratic process. ART FOR CHANGE and this vibrant print of Shirley Chisholm serve as powerful reminders of the importance of every vote and the continuing fight for civil rights and social justice."