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.

The massive, black steel scaffolding grid visually references institutional spaces, like prison cells, or the open minimalist cubes of artist Sol LeWitt. Within this framework, Johnson injects a sprawling, organic ecosystem, subverting the grid’s rigid structure. Within in it, viewers find an accumulation of domestic ephemera reflecting African American history and culture, lush vegetation housed in Johnson’s hand-made ceramic vessels, cultural artifacts, influential literary references, and video monitors looping Johnson’s early films.

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 will perform live improvisations from within the structure. Music floats through the foliage, giving life and cohering community through shared narrative.

Performances occur at the top of each hour for 30 minutes. Due to limited capacity, we encourage guests to cycle through the gallery during the performance.

Check back frequently as more surprise guests will be added to the line-up throughout the exhibition’s run!