Wiliam Pope.L is an artist whose work a lot of people have seen, even if they haven’t heard his name: he made the giant, extra-long American flag with 51 stars and its stripes in tatters that flapped behind Kendrick Lamar as he sang at the 2015 BET Awards.
In some ways, that was among the most conventional of Pope.L’s works. His official business cards tease at issues about white fears of African-American men with the words “The friendliest black artist in America.” He’s also eaten — and vomited up — copies of the Wall Street Journal, tied himself to a bank door and handed out money, and sold snowballs on the streets of New York City during winter.
Ha also makes makes prints of bold words on paper, like “BLACK PEOPLE ARE THE RAIN AGAINST MY WINDSHIELD” or “WHITE PEOPLE ARE MY TEARS.” As my co-host A-lan Holt says, he’s stirring up just enough controversy to jolt us all awake. You can get a taste of Pope.L’s dry humor and humanity when he gives an artist’s talk at Stanford University’s Oshman Hall on Jan. 18. Details here.
