Derrick Adams’s ‘View Master’ Exhibition Opens at ICA Boston

Presented at Institute of Contemporary Art Boston, the mid-career survey explores themes of Black joy through vivid color, portraiture, and layered storytelling.

Photo: Mel Taing/ Courtesy Of The Artist And Ica Boston

Baltimore-born, Brooklyn-based artist Derrick Adams is receiving recognition at ICA Boston with his inaugural comprehensive exhibition. The exhibition, titled View Master, features more than 100 works produced over the past two decades, serving as a poignant, cross-genre tribute to the depth of Black American existence.

By engaging with domains such as pop culture, Black art history, home life, and particularly play, Adams transforms quotidian experiences into vibrant visual festivities. He is primarily recognised for his vivid cubist portraits; however, the ICA exhibition highlights the entirety of his oeuvre, encompassing painting, sculpture, collage, installation, and performance. For the occasion, the artist will present previously unseen pieces from his personal archive, in addition to debuting customised immersive display wallpapers and new works both within and outside the museum. A significant project, marking the ICA's inaugural large facade commission, will envelop the museum's exterior until April 2027, while Adams' cherished "Funtime Unicorn" riders are scheduled to arrive this summer.

Photo: Mel Taing/ Courtesy Of The Artist And Ica Boston

The show progresses through five thematic chapters that constitute the foundation of the artist's practice: “The Urban Landscape,” “Domestic Space & Family Life,” “Play,” “Performance,” and “Television & Media.” The title of the show, View Master, serves as an homage to Charles Harrison, the Black industrial designer responsible for the 1958 redesign of the View Master toy, as well as the Black perspective that has consistently informed Adams' artistry over the years. Curators Dexter Wimberly and Tessa Bachi Haas stated, “Adams’ employment of vibrant colours, dynamic compositions, and intricate textures generates a significant visual impact that emphasises the profundity of the Black experience.” “His work encourages visitors to appreciate the beauty and resilience in the quotidian experiences of Black individuals, infused with humour and whimsy.”

Visit the museum's website to obtain your tickets.

Institute of Contemporary Art Boston

25 Harbour Shore Dr,

Boston, MA 02210.