Theaster Gates

Theaster Gates is an installation artist whose works often centre around social and racial themes, with an aim of highlighting cultural differences and improving underprivileged neighbourhoods through a combination of urban planning and the different mediums of art – he founded the Rebuild Foundation, with some of its most famous works including the restoration of various vacant buildings, and resulting transformations into cultural installations. Gates’ initial foray into art was through the medium of pottery – a skill that he studied for some time in Japan. His installations are often thought-provoking and layered with meaning; one of his most famous pieces, included in his ‘The Minor Arts’ collection, featured him taking an axe to one of his paintings – the final outcome was a glossy black canvas featuring a gaping hole in its centre, something that Gates has stated was a message regarding the lack of education funding and subsequent closing of various black and poor schools. (Artist website)