The artwork, titled “EXelento (detail),” is an exemplary piece by Ellen Gallagher created in 2004. It is part of the Neo-Pop Art and Contemporary art movements. The artwork falls within the figurative genre and showcases Gallagher’s unique style.
In “EXelento (detail),” Gallagher presents a series of distorted and altered advertisements featuring African American women, which have been transformed through the artist’s distinctive methods. The subjects are adorned with exaggerated hairstyling and bright colors, particularly yellow, bringing a stark and vivid expression to the images. The eyes of the figures are conspicuously white and hollow, adding a surreal and somewhat haunting aspect to the overall composition. The piece contrasts traditional depictions and stereotypical representations by re-contextualizing imagery from historical advertisements, thus inviting the viewer to reflect on cultural perceptions and racial identity.
