Letitia Huckaby

5 Paperdolls: A Contemporary Tale

October 17 - November 28, 2020

Letitia Huckaby’s new body of work draws parallels between the racial strife preceding the passing of the Civil Rights Act passed in 1964, and the current climate of division promoted by the current populist, white nationalist administration. 5 Paperdolls: A Contemporary Tale was inspired by the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama on September 15, 1963. The explosion killed 14-year-old Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, and Carole Robertson and 11-year-old Denise McNair and wounded dozens of others. The 16th Street Baptist Church had a predominantly black congregation and served as a meeting place for civil rights leaders.  

Using visual references of paper dolls, which were widely popular among young girls in the ’60s, but were devoid of black representation, Huckaby’s pieces are a neo-cautionary tale about how ignoring history can lead to the perpetuation of heinous acts against targeted members of society.

Huckaby creates powerful vignettes that explore family narratives and African American history fusing photography and textiles. Huckaby began her career as a documentary photographer and it is through the camera’s lenses that she gives the overlooked and forgotten renewed value. 

Huckaby holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma, a BFA from the Art Institute of Boston, Massachusetts in photography, and an MFA from the University of North Texas in Denton. Huckaby has exhibited at The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (The Momentary), Phillips Auction House, New York, Tyler Museum of Art, Tyler, Texas, Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, Dallas Contemporary, the Galveston Arts Center at Galveston, Texas, The McKinney Avenue Contemporary, Dallas, Texas, New York Renaissance Fine Art in Harlem, New York, New York curated by Deborah Willis, Ph.D.; the McKenna Museum in New Orleans, and the Dallas African-American Museum. Public projects include the mural (A collaboration with Sedrick Huckaby) END RACISM NOW at the 800 block of Main St. in Fort Worth, Texas, a piece along the Trinity River in Fort Worth at the 4th street trailhead site, and at the new Ella Mae Shamblee branch library in Fort Worth, Texas. Her work is part of the collection of The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.