Soul of a Nation

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
Developed by the Tate Modern in London and debuting in the US at Crystal Bridges, Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power examines the influences, including the civil rights movement, Minimalism, and abstraction. Soul of a Nation shines a bright light on the vital contribution of Black artists to an important period in American history and art.

DESIGN GOALS
I created a unique and fully developed exhibition visual design experience, focused on promoting the artists as individuals. Due to the exhibition being tight on space, I implemented a texture system: using narrow panels, 1/3” wood letters, and the pairing of matte surfaces with gloss vinyl to ensure interaction without overwhelming the nearby artwork.

Exhibition Wayfinding

Crystal Bridges is a complex set of buildings with architecture that is overwhelming when initially interacting with it. Over the years we have studied guests and developed a system that either stands in contrast to the architecture or blends into the forms but is set apart visually. “Floor-finding,” in particular, has been an essential staple for us.

We needed high impact for Soul of a Nation in our main lobby, which is point-of-sale, so hung direct-printed aluminum from the ceiling. This was our largest intervention to date. Utilizing the trapezoidal shape in the marketing elements, we placed it throughout the museum and offered the artist’s voices or prominent reviews of the show.

Exhibition Collateral

Soul of a Nation presented an opportunity for a hefty amount of collateral. It was a privilege to work on this exhibition.

See my design work here.

- Marketing ads, print + digital
- Director’s Reception invitation
- Exhibition gallery guide
- Symposium package