Roy Ferdinand: Rockstars and Strawberries, New Orleans 1990-2004

Fascinating exhibition at the Mayor Gallery of work by New Orleans, untrained artist Roy Ferdinand.

These pictures of daily life in the city’s poorest neighbours were often brutal subjects but tenderly painted with an inside understanding of the lives being lived there. They had a documentary quality while being naïve in style.

It was useful to have the good press release to learn about the life of Ferdinand who sadly died of cancer at 45.

I got a real sense of standing in a group of people who knew and interacted with each other. It is probably better to see a group of them rather than individual works.

Closed 7 October 2022

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