Online Class: Ride or Die: The Black Cowboy and Urban Rider in Contemporary Art
Wednesdays, June 9–30, 6 – 8:10pm

Installation view, 30 Americans at the Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia. Photo by Sean Murray
$220; members $198
(4 classes)
About the Class
Rediscover the timeless archetypes of the Cowboy and the Equestrian through the lens of the African diaspora and contemporary art. From the Wild West to the streets of Philadelphia, this iconic figure can be found throughout history and modern visual culture. Looking at the work of artists Phil Sumpter, Kehinde Wiley, and Mohamed Bourouissa, this class explores lost legends and reimagined myths of the Black Rider.
Each week, the main lecture is followed by a 30-minute discussion session that allows students the opportunity to ask questions and exchange ideas with the instructor and classmates.
Instructor

Li Sumpter
Sumpter is a scholar of art, myth, and humanities with over 15 years in museum education. In addition to Barnes Foundation courses, she teaches curatorial studies, art history, and Afrofuturism at Moore College of Art & Design, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and various institutions across the country. Sumpter is also a multidisciplinary artist engaged in community practice with a focus on the art of survival and DIY media. She is founder/director of the Escape Artist Initiative and MythMedia Studios and is a lead educator at the North Philly Peace Park.