Slick

“You think you’re slick. Just wait. One day a woman is going to straighten you out!” This wry comment by Hendricks’ sister inspired the title of this self-portrait. The essence of cool, the artist is stylishly dressed in a white linen suit and stands against a neutral backdrop. The white-on-white environment becomes a witty metaphor for the racial politics of the era. Drawing attention to his face and colorful African cap, Hendricks invites us to contemplate his identity—a vision that is literally reflected in his glasses as they catch the light from his studio’s arched windows.

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