Oprah We Love You... 2011

Editor: So, here we have Faith Ringgold's "Oprah We Love You..." from 2011, it’s a mixed-media piece with textile and collage elements. It almost feels like a quilt but it's more graphic, bold lettering saying “Oprah We Love You”. What strikes you when you look at this piece? Curator: The use of quilting techniques speaks directly to the historical position of women and labor. Quilts weren’t just bed coverings; they were often communal projects, vehicles for storytelling, and displays of skill, deeply tied to domestic spaces and the undervalued work of women, particularly women of color. Here, Ringgold elevates a traditionally ‘low’ craft to ‘high’ art. Editor: So, you're saying she's using those techniques to talk about the work Oprah has done? Curator: Exactly. Consider the repetition of text and geometric shapes. What kind of dialogue does this create between pop art and craft? Are the bright colors a reflection of Pop Art aesthetic? Moreover, we should think about the role Oprah's image played in consumer culture. How does Ringgold’s use of the quilt form complicate the notions of celebrity endorsement? Editor: That makes me think about how quilting is also a narrative form, with each piece of fabric having its own story. By putting "Oprah" within that framework, Ringgold is almost enshrining her in a larger narrative of Black women's achievement. Curator: Precisely! And Ringgold uses accessible materials like textiles to comment on material culture. This collage isn’t just about celebrating Oprah, but it critiques and honors the systems that made her possible. Editor: I hadn't considered the textile aspect as a form of commentary itself. That changes how I understand the piece entirely. Curator: It is by bringing attention to overlooked labor and consumption practices that we might truly assess an image of popular success.