2023
Hand-carved gypsum and acrylic on wood
93 5/8 x 46 5/8 x 3 in. © Lauren Halsey. Image courtesy of the artist and David Kordansky Gallery. Photo by Allen Chen.
This large hand-carved relief by Lauren Halsey pays tribute to the visual and cultural fabric of South Central Los Angeles where the artist was born. The entire surface is engraved with local business signs including a representation of the Mafundi Institute, graffiti, titles of other artworks by Halsey, Egyptian motifs, and everyday life elements of black culture, all functioning like contemporary hieroglyphs that are deeply personal and rooted in community memory. As with other works by Halsey, this relief celebrates vernacular expression while engaging with broader narratives of identity, memory, and resilience.