Runaways

Glenn Ligon American
Publisher Max Protetch American

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The stylized figures and descriptive texts in these prints resemble the classified ads that were placed by nineteenth-century enslavers. Like the originals, they contain information that could assist in identifying a fugitive from slavery, including physical characteristics, personality traits, and clothing. Here, however, Ligon himself is the subject of the ads and the descriptions are provided by his friends. As with much of his work, he creates a paradox between the impersonal advertisements for lost "property" and the autobiographical information given.

Runaways, Glenn Ligon (American, born New York, New York, 1960), Portfolio of ten lithographs

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