Tyler D. Ballon's diptych "Right to Bear Arms/Second Amendment" draws inspiration from Édouard Manet's "The Execution of Emperor Maximilian". This piece portrays young Black men as protectors, subverting historical stereotypes of violence. Ballon discusses the duality of sports as a pathway to success while also critiquing how Black individuals are historically marginalized. Through his work, he emphasizes the resilience of the African American community, linking their struggles for citizenship and freedom with military pride and the legacy of sports in shaping identity.
While creating these paintings, I realized there is an interesting dichotomy between sports being a tool for success and having Black bodies being used to advance America's ambition. My paintings challenge stereotypes that confine people of color to achieving success solely through physical prowess or musical talent.
Seeing a gun pointed at a person of color is something that's familiar to American history. But having an African American man holding a rifle is distinctively different.
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