ticketsMember | Make a donation

African Athlete

Thornton Dial American
1998
Not on view
In his drawings, Dial often commemorated newsworthy events with particular resonance for African Americans. The surprising death of track-and-field star and Olympic champion Florence Griffith Joyner (Flo-Jo) in 1998 prompted the artist to pay tribute to her life and accomplishments with this work, a languid yet energetic nude figure drawing that features the athlete’s signature brightly colored fingernails. Like many of Dial’s drawings, African Athlete distorts the figure and perspective, providing the viewer a vantage point seemingly from above.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: African Athlete
  • Artist: Thornton Dial (American, Emelle, Alabama 1928–2016 McCalla, Alabama)
  • Date: 1998
  • Medium: Graphite, charcoal, and pastel on paper
  • Dimensions: 44 × 30 in. (111.8 × 76.2 cm)
  • Classification: Drawings
  • Credit Line: Gift of Souls Grown Deep Foundation from the William S. Arnett Collection, 2014
  • Object Number: 2014.548.23
  • Rights and Reproduction: © Estate of Thornton Dial/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
  • Curatorial Department: Modern and Contemporary Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Powder Plant, Thornton Dial American, Sheet metal, sawdust, commercial paint, and adhesive on canvas on wood
Powder Plant
Thornton Dial
2013
Victory in Iraq, Thornton Dial American, Mannequin head, barbed wire, steel, clothing, tin, electrical wire, wheels, stuffed animals, toy cars and figurines, plastic spoons, wood, basket, oil, enamel, spray paint and two-part epoxy putty on canvas on wood
Victory in Iraq
Thornton Dial
2004
Out of the Darkness, the Lord Gave Us Light, Thornton Dial American, Carpet, cloth, two-part epoxy putty, enamel, and spray paint on canvas on wood
Out of the Darkness, the Lord Gave Us Light
Thornton Dial
2003
The End of November: The Birds That Didn't Learn How to Fly, Thornton Dial American, Quilt, wire, fabric, and enamel on canvas on wood
The End of November: The Birds That Didn't Learn How to Fly
Thornton Dial
2007
Celebration, Thornton Dial American, Graphite, pastel, watercolor, and gouache on paper
Celebration
Thornton Dial
2004

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.