Robert Graham Carter: The Art of Reflection: at The Heckscher Museum of Art

Robert Graham Carter (American, b. 1938) is a visual artist best known for his mixed-media works including commanding drawings; sculptural, high-relief paintings; and whimsical works on wood. Carter’s figurative compositions routinely speak to systemic societal issues with a specificity derived from his lived experiences. Created over the last sixty years drawing influence from his upbringing in the Jim Crow South, Robert’s figurative compositions balance personal and universal truths, with a focus on topics pertinent to the African-American condition: the joy and importance of family, the legacy of segregation, the charm of childhood, the spiritual and corporal force that is the Black church, and the impression of Blackface on American culture. This 2025 presentation explores his studio practice and his unique painterly voice as it traces overarching impactful themes from his lifelong career.

Conceived in direct collaboration with the artist, this exhibition is curated by Sarah Battle, research curator at the Speed Art Museum in Louisville, Kentucky, with support from Camille Pratt, artist, and digitization specialist at Digital Transitions-Pixel Acuity.