Artwork Description
Virgil William Carson Runner – Revolt Runners,
Sun – Moon with Rez Spine
Dimensions: 36 x 24 x 6.5”
Year: 2023
Medium: coal and acrylic on panel, ceramic Runner mask, leather knotted cord
Virgil Ortiz’s and William Carson’s collaborative Runner works convey their shared material language. Both artists foreground personally significant natural materials as part of the message of their artworks. For Ortiz, who grew up on Cochiti pueblo, clay and traditional designs are integral in his visual language. Carson’s art considers cultural relationships to fossil fuels, and raises questions about how we value natural materials. Growing up on a cattle ranch in rural Montana surrounded by coal mines inspired his interest in working with coal to create paintings, sculptures, sound performances, and time-based installations.