MIAMI.- Today, Faith Ringgold is well known as the progenitor of the African American story quilt revival that began in the late 1970s. The once influential paintings she created during the previous decade, with only a few notable exceptions, disappeared from view, omitted from critical, art historical discourse for more than forty years. This is the first comprehensive survey of these paintings, organized on the occasion of Ringgold's 80th birthday. The exhibition will include the landmark series American People (1963-1967) and Black Light (1967-1971), along with related murals and political posters. Taken together, these works represent an unprecedented artistic exploration of the intersections of race, gender and class, made in direct response to the social upheavals of the 1960s.

American People, Black Light: Faith Ringgold’s Painting of the 1960s was curated by Miami Art Museum Director Thom Collins and Neuberger Museum of Art Curator and Purchase College Associate Professor of Art History Tracy Fitzpatrick with students from the Purchase College, SUNY, spring 2010 Art History Exhibition Seminar.

Faith Ringgold, began her artistic career more than 35 years ago as a painter. Today, she is best known for her painted story quilts -- art that combines painting, quilted fabric and storytelling. She has exhibited in major museums in the USA, Europe, South America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. She is in the permanent collection of many museums including the Studio Museum in Harlem, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The Museum of Modern Art. Her first book, Tar Beach was a Caldecott Honor Book and winner of the Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration, among numerous other honors. She has written and illustrated eleven children's books. She has received more than 75 awards, fellowships, citations and honors, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Fellowship for painting, two National Endowment for the Arts Awards and seventeen honorary doctorates, one of which is from her alma mater The City College of New York.