Antoine’s Organ (2016) is a monumental, immersive multimedia installation by contemporary artist Rashid Johnson, on view as a part of his career-spanning exhibition, A Poem for Deep Thinkers. Serving as a metaphor for the artist’s own brain, the artwork explores complex themes of race, class, yearning, Afrocentric identity, and the subversion of cultural containment.

Named after the classically trained pianist and music producer Antoine Baldwin (also known as Audio BLK), who originally activated the work in its 2016 debut, a piano is hidden at the center of the labyrinthine structure. Throughout the exhibition’s run, musicians perform live improvisations from within the structure. Music floats through the foliage, giving life and cohering community through shared narrative.

Due to limited capacity, we encourage guests to cycle through the gallery during the performance.

About the Performer

Julian Davis Reid is a pianist, producer, and composer who uses words and music to invite us into the restful lives we were created to live. With a focus on jazz, electronic music, and gospel, Reid’s approach to composition and playing has been described as introspective and hopeful. Hailing from Chicago, Reid’s newest project is Circle of Trust, which is his original music inspired by the sonic worlds of Herbie Hancock, Ahmad Jamal, McCoy Tyner, and Robert Glasper. His debut EP, Candid, is out now, and he is working on his first full-length project, Portraits. As a collaborator, Reid is a founding member of The JuJu Exchange (with Nico Segal and Nova Zaii), and works extensively with saxophonist Isaiah Collier. Reid has performed at the Montreal Jazz Fest, The Cleveland Orchestra’s Severance Hall, Lollapalooza, and the Berlin Jazz Fest, and he has worked or performed with Chance the Rapper, Jamila Woods, Peter CottonTale, Tank and the Bangas, Derrick Hodge, Andrew Bird, and Jennifer Hudson. His work has been covered in Forbes and Downbeat. Reid, his wife Carmen, and daughter Lydia live in Chicago.