Over the course of six decades, American artist, author, and activist Faith Ringgold worked in a variety of media and modes—from quilts and paintings to performance and children’s books—conveying a narrative that is as personal as it is political. While perhaps best known for the celebrated story quilts developed later in her career, Ringgold began creating politically charged works in the 1960s with two series of paintings inspired by the racial and social instability enveloping the country: the American People Series (1963–1967) and the Black Light Series (1967–1969). Black Light Series #12: Party Time, 1969, an example in Glenstone’s collection, depicts four Black women rendered in what the artist has called a “black light” style—a palette in which white pigments of paint have been removed and dark colors are complementarily contrasted.

–Kevin McDonald, from the Glenstone Field Guide