A multidisciplinary celebration of heritage, identity and music
Fifteen works by artist Jeffrey Gibson come together in "A Real Love Thing," an exhibition at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C. The presentation spans a decade of his practice, bringing painting, sculpture and textile-based work into conversation.
Gibson's vivid compositions combine prismatic color and intricate beadwork with fabrics and other materials. Across the exhibition, patterns and queer iconography meet references to his Indigenous Mississippi Choctaw and Cherokee heritage. Music is another recurring influence: song lyrics appear in tapestry-like wall works and three-dimensional pieces.
The exhibition's title draws on soul musician Marvin Gaye's 1971 reflections on love, people and nature. Gibson echoes that spirit through works incorporating materials and forms connected to Indigenous traditions, including glass beads, jingle cones and tipi poles.
"A Real Love Thing" is on view through March 13 at the Bloomberg Center. Gibson is also scheduled to speak on November 12 as part of the Sam Gilliam Lecture series. By bringing cultural memory and contemporary materials together, the exhibition points to how art can help carry heritage forward while imagining more inclusive futures.
