Tajh Rust, Rückenfigur III, 2026; Limited Edition Print

**This print will launch Tuesday, July 21st. Please sign up for our newsletter for early access or email hello@artforchange.com to inquire.**

Tajh Rust uses portraiture to explore questions around representation and visibility. Working primarily in painting, the artist embeds fragments of his lived experiences into compositions that reference both historical and fictional materials. Based in New York City, Rust received his MFA from Yale School of Art in 2019, and BFA from The Cooper Union in 2011. Solo exhibitions of his works have been presented at Alexander Berggruen, New York, NY; Palm Springs Art Museum, Palm Springs, CA; and Matthew Brown, Los Angeles, CA. Additionally, his paintings have been included in group exhibitions at institutions that include Ogunquit Museum of American Art, Ogunquit, ME; the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, FL; The Shed, New York, NY; and FLAG Art Foundation, New York, NY. 

Rückenfigur III stems from a recent series inspired by the Romantic painter Caspar David Friedrich’s sublime depictions of men overwhelmed by nature, such as the famous nineteenth-century work Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog. In Rust’s painting, a solitary figure stands atop a rock while staring towards the waves crashing beneath him. Although the central character’s clothing blends in with the surrounding blue sky, his downward gaze appears to be accentuated by the clouds that frame his upper body. The artist notes, “The subject of this work is not the man, but [rather] his contemplation of the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean—all the history it holds, and all the cultures and stories it connects.” For this limited edition series, Rust will add other objects or beings commonly found at the beach, such as birds, swimmers, and boats.

Tajh Rust
Rückenfigur III, 2026
24 x 20 inches
Archival pigment print
Limited edition of 10
Hand-embellished, signed and numbered by the artist
$950

Limited edition of 15 with 5 AP + 2 PP
Signed and numbered by the artist
$550

Of ART FOR CHANGE’s initiative to support global reforestation, Rust adds, “I come from an urban environment, so any green space we can find is appreciated. Considering how deforestation and desertification have impacted parts of the Black diaspora, I think planting trees and reinvesting in our environment is of the utmost importance. Summers get hotter each year, so it’s nice to be able to pause for a moment and get some shade.”*International customers are responsible for applicable duties and taxes including new VAT fees.
*Unframed prints ship within 1-3 weeks.
*Framed prints ship within 3-6 weeks.