BY George Clinton in Frieze Los Angeles | 10 FEB 23

George Clinton’s Favorite Works from Frieze Los Angeles 2023

The revolutionary artist and musician selects his top picks, including iconic photography from Ming Smith and ‘the most powerful and important artwork of our time’ by Hank Willis Thomas

BY George Clinton in Frieze Los Angeles | 10 FEB 23

Julie Curtiss
Lobster, 2020
Airbrushed acrylic and gouache on paper
9.06" x 12.2" (23 cm x 31 cm)
$ 22,000
Presented by White Cube

Julie Curtiss, Lobster, 2020, Airbrushed acrylic and gouache on paper, 9.06" x 12.2" (23 cm x 31 cm), Courtesy the Artist and White Cube — Julie Curtiss, *Lobster*, 2020, Airbrushed acrylic and gouache on paper, 9.06" x 12.2" (23 cm x 31 cm), Courtesy the Artist and White Cube

Julie Curtiss brings surrealism into the future. I have always loved surrealism, especially Salvador Dali and I immediately think of his lobster telephone. Curtiss paints her black Lobster in such a seductive way.

Hank Willis Thomas
The Embrace, 2023
polished bronze
7.52" x 10" x 10" (19.1 cm x 25.4 cm x 25.4 cm)
Edition of 50 plus 10 A.P.
Reserved
Presented by Pace Gallery

Hank Willis Thomas, The Embrace, 2023, polished bronze, 7.52" x 10" x 10" (19.1 cm x 25.4 cm x 25.4 cm), Edition of 50 plus 10 A.P., Courtesy the Artist and Pace — Hank Willis Thomas, *The Embrace*, 2023, polished bronze, 7.52" x 10" x 10" (19.1 cm x 25.4 cm x 25.4 cm), Edition of 50 plus 10 A.P., Courtesy the Artist and Pace

Hank Willis Thomas’s Embrace is the most powerful and important artwork of our time. Thomas commemorates Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King in a beautiful story of love and togetherness, shining light on their history as a couple while continuing a message of unity for the future.

Ming Smith
Ed Love and Tina Turner, 1984
archival pigment print
24.02" x 35.98" (61 cm x 91.4 cm)
$35,000
Presented by Nicola Vassell Gallery

Ming Smith, Ed Love and Tina Turner, 1984, archival pigment print, 24.02" x 35.98" (61 cm x 91.4 cm), Courtesy the Artist and Nicola Vassell Gallery — Ming Smith, *Ed Love and Tina Turner*, 1984, archival pigment print, 24.02" x 35.98" (61 cm x 91.4 cm), Courtesy the Artist and Nicola Vassell Gallery

I love how Ming Smith captured Tina’s authority in this photo. I admire Ming Smith’s work and her commitment to capture black life. Her photography is like music to me.

Otis Kwame Quaicoe
Ahoufe, 2022
Oil and acrylic on panel
47.99" x 35.98" (121.9 cm x 91.4 cm)
Reserved
Presented by Roberts Projects

Otis Kwame Quaicoe, Ahoufe, 2022, Oil and acrylic on panel, 47.99" x 35.98" (121.9 cm x 91.4 cm), courtesy the Artist and Roberts Projects — Otis Kwame Quaicoe, *Ahoufe*, 2022, Oil and acrylic on panel, 47.99" x 35.98" (121.9 cm x 91.4 cm), courtesy the Artist and Roberts Projects

Otis Kwame Quaicoe’s portrait Ahoufe is cool. I love the boldness of his subjects and the rich textures that he develops in his paintings.

Henry Taylor
Untitled, 2022
Acrylic on canvas
213.7 x 152.4 x 7.9 cm / 84 1/8 x 60 x 3 1/8 in
Presented by Hauser & Wirth.

Henry Taylor, Untitled, 2022, Acrylic on canvas, 213.7 x 152.4 x 7.9 cm / 84 1/8 x 60 x 3 1/8 in, © Henry Taylor, Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth, Photo: Jeff McLane. — Henry Taylor, *Untitled*, 2022, Acrylic on canvas, 213.7 x 152.4 x 7.9 cm / 84 1/8 x 60 x 3 1/8 in, © Henry Taylor, Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth, Photo: Jeff McLane.

I love the way Henry Taylor captures the essence of his subjects in his paintings. I look to him for inspiration and admire his compositions and gesture. His paintings are strong and authentic and always hit a chord with me.

Mark Bradford
Shall Rest in Honor There, 2023
Mixed media on canvas
184.1 x 244.5 x 5.4 cm / 72 1/2 x 96 1/4 x 2 1/8 in.
Presented by Hauser & Wirth

Mark Bradford, Shall Rest in Honor There, 2023, Mixed media on canvas, 184.1 x 244.5 x 5.4 cm / 72 1/2 x 96 1/4 x 2, 1/8 in., © Mark Bradford, Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth, Photo: Joshua White / JWPictures.com. — Mark Bradford, *Shall Rest in Honor There*, 2023, Mixed media on canvas, 184.1 x 244.5 x 5.4 cm / 72 1/2 x 96 1/4 x 2, 1/8 in., © Mark Bradford, Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth, Photo: Joshua White / JWPictures.com.

Mark Bradford’s Shall Rest in Honor There is a history painting at its greatest. This painting seduces with rich gesture and shines light on the darkness of war. Mark keeps elevating the stories that have shaped the past.

About George Clinton

George Clinton in his studio. Photo courtesy of Lynsey Weatherspoon.

George Clinton is a revolutionary artist and musician. His sounds and visual sensibilities are part of the founding DNA of hip hop and urban culture, whilst his paintings include a fusion of acrylic, spray paint, text and collage, all layered on canvas. Clinton has had solo exhibitions at Jeffrey Deitch, Los Angeles; George Washington Carver Museum, Austin; The National Museum of African American Music, Nashville; and the Oakland Museum of Art. His iconic “Mothership” (centerpiece stage prop) for Parliament-Funkadelic is on permanent display at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC.

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^{Main image: George Clinton in his studio. Photo courtesy of Lynsey Weatherspoon.}

GEORGE CLINTON

George Clinton is a revolutionary artist and musician. His iconic “Mothership” for Parliament-Funkadelic is on permanent display at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC.