Al Loving: Torn Canvas

Born in Detroit, Al Loving (1935–2005) studied painting at the University of Michigan, before moving to New York in 1968, where he found himself among a milieu that included artists Robert Duran, Alan Shields, Richard Van Buren and the dancer and choreographer Batya Zamir. A year later, in 1969, Loving famously became the first African-American to have a one-person show at the Whitney. In works such as “Self-Portrait #23,” Loving combines hundreds of pieces of torn fabric into an abundance of overlapping shapes. Their rich array of colors stretches irregularly, extending to the floor and encompassing the surrounding space. Accompanying the first exhibition devoted to Loving’s work since his death in 2005, this volume provides an in-depth look at the artist’s work from 1973 to 1985. It includes five of the artist’s fabric wallhangings, and a selection of handmade paper collages, many of which have never before been reproduced.