Artist Laylah Ali to Discuss Her Work on March 31

On Thursday, March 31, at 2:30 p.m., the College of Humanities and Fine Arts and the Department of History of Art and Architecture will host a public talk with artist Laylah Ali, who will discuss the evolution of her work, which relates to important contemporary debates about race, power and violence in U.S. society.  

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Through meticulously labored paintings, Ali investigates the disconnect between the human body and freedom. Ali is renowned for her “Greenheads” series of gouache paintings addressing themes of interpersonal violence and human brutality through the interaction of abstract, cartoon-like figures with sneakers, priestly robes, military-inspired costumes and other attributes. More recently, she has worked on several artistic collaborations and produced imaginative portraits commenting on current political events as well as abstract drawings.  

Ali lives and works in Williamstown, Mass., and teaches at Williams College. She received a BA from Williams and an MFA from Washington University in St. Louis.

More information about the event, which will be held in the Commonwealth Honors College Events Hall, can be found on the Department of History of Art and Architecture website.