Article: Titus Kaphar Talks Race, History, and Personal Experience at Anderson Ranch

“When people look at my work, and they talk about my work, a lot of times they talk about it in the context of this sort of social and political work,” said New Haven–based artist Titus Kaphar as he began his recent talk at Anderson Ranch Arts Center. “I understand that, but for me, it always comes from a really personal place, some experience that I’ve had — something that’s affected me directly, and I’ve decided to take it to the studio.”

Kaphar’s talk was delivered on July 7 as part of Anderson Ranch’s Summer Series of panels and discussions featuring artists, curators, critics, and collectors. The artist, known for his multimedia practice that investigates, appropriates, and even invents history — particularly African-American history — went on to speak about his most important projects to date, his role as a teacher (of others and himself), and his relationship to the complex narratives of art history. Kaphar’s work feels deeply personal, and indeed his presentation came off that way as well.