Libby Black

Libby Black is an American contemporary artist known for her work in drawing, painting, and sculpture.

Biography of Libby Black

Libby Black was born in Toledo, Ohio, in 1976. From 1994 to 1999, she studied at the Cleveland Institute of Art in Cleveland, receiving a BFA in Painting. Later, from 1999 to 2001, she attended the California College of Arts and Crafts in San Francisco, pursuing an MFA in Painting and Drawing.

She is an Associate Professor at San Francisco State University, where she shares her expertise and passion for the arts with students.

In 2020, Libby Black received the Marcus Early Career Research Award, recognizing her significant contributions and achievements in her field.

Her solo exhibitions include "The Way Things Also Are" at The David Ireland House in San Francisco (2022), "Returning to this Moment" at Gallery 16 in San Francisco (2022), "Little Girl Blue" at Guerrero Gallery in San Francisco (2018), "There's No Place Like Home" at Joshua Liner Gallery in New York (2015), and many more.

Additionally, Black's painting and other works have been featured in numerous group shows held at various galleries and museums worldwide, including Anthony Meier in Mill Valley, The Museum of Craft and Design in San Francisco, Birmingham Museum of Art in Birmingham, Casemore Kirkeby in San Francisco, Galerie Droste in Wuppertal, Natalie and James Thompson Gallery in San Jose, among others.

Currently, the artist lives and works in Berkeley, California.

Libby Black's Art Style

Through her artwork, Libby Black navigates a journey that intertwines personal history with a broader cultural narrative. Her work delves into the intersections of politics, feminism, LGBTQ+ identity, consumerism, addiction, ideas of value, and desire.

Her sculptural pieces are life-sized replicas of everyday objects crafted from paper, hot glue, and acrylic paint. In her exhibitions, she often arranges these sculptures—depicting domestic items, books, magazines, handbags, and shoes—into still life compositions that blend reality with imagination. Additionally, her two-dimensional paintings and drawings are derived from imagery sourced from fashion magazines, newspapers, and books, further exploring themes of contemporary culture and identity.