If you’re checking out any of the NY fairs this week, you can see a couple of new works by me at @independent_hq with @vielmetter gallery.
The widow Cherry dismantling the master’s house
2026
Charcoal, conté, pastel on a coffee wash
84” x 60”
How is history constructed?
In the genre of portraiture, a little theatricality goes a long way. In his royal portraits from a fictional Black state, see how artist Robert Pruitt (@robertpruitt ) subverts art history to craft alternative modes of self-representation.
On view in Some American Dreams through June 14. Included with free admission (link in bio).
Images: Robert Pruitt, in collaboration with FWM. Untitled Photographs, 2011. Artwork and process photos, FWM Visual Archives; Visitor photo by Constance Mensh.
“For the occasion, Williams is wearing a Swarovski crystal mesh gown inspired by Robert Pruitt’s Venus Williams, Double Portrait (2022), a portrait of her commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery.”
Robert Pruitt’s work is featured in Vogue’s coverage of the Met Gala. Venus Williams emulated the artist’s portrait of her in her look for yesterday’s event. Pruitt will be included in our presentation at the Independent fair next week in NYC!
Robert Pruitt
“Venus Williams, Double Portrait,” 2022
Conté, charcoal, pastel, and coffee
72” x 48” [HxW]
Photo credit: Getty Images
@robertpruitt@voguemagazine
Today I participated in the @falloffreedom May Day project. I reworked an old zine about a mothership pilot encountering state kidnappings on Earth. Sun Ra, of course, makes an appearance plus Autobot Prowl. I placed these zines all around my neighborhood, walking from my barbershop on 135th back to East Harlem. Bust stops, coffee shops, McDonald’s and various benches. Met a flautists on 7th Ave, and bought a gold chain on 3rd, all fueled on a couple of dirty Chais. Tomorrow is free comic book day so I’ll try and give out a few more. I have studio visit in the morning though so we’ll see how that goes timewise.
Bday photo dump! Another year of staying busy staying free. Took a sewing class (shout out to @melaninarchivist ) lost my teal frames, got a new nephew, hung with a bunch of amazing people and bought a DJ mixer!
Today: Last day of IFPDA featuring Tamarind Institute’s premiere of a new body of work by Robert Pruitt (@robertpruitt ), including Woman with Figs (shown).
💜 Booth A29
#robertpruitt #tamarindinstitute #lithography #collectprints #ifpda
💫 New Release by American artist Robert Pruitt (@robertpruitt )
Robert Pruitt’s latest body of work at Tamarind features a large-scale portrait of a woman surrounded by cascading figs (each printed, cut and chine colléd around her body); a cityscape set in New York; an almost handheld study of a woman at home; and a celestial couple dusted in black glitter.
🔗 in bio to learn more, or email [email protected] for details.
📆 See their debut at this year’s IFPDA Print Fair (@ifpda ) at Park Avenue Armory, April 9-12
#robertpruitt #tamarindinstitute #lithography #collectprints #americanartist
Vielmetter Los Angeles is thrilled to announce the Museum of Modern Art’s acquisition of Robert Pruitt’s work Woman with Lizards (2025).
Featured in his latest exhibition at the gallery, Corpus in 2025, Pruitt’s monumental drawing depicts a seated female-figure enrobed in a mesh of sumptuous green vines that conceal a collection of small green lizards. Throughout Pruitt’s work, these quasi-mystic figures percolate and speak to the artist’s interest in honing the spiritual aspects of nature in his work. Pruitt’s practice weaves together religious iconography, science fiction imagery, and African American perspectives on theism, transcendence and mythology.
@robertpruitt@themuseumofmodernart
In a new series, Robert Pruitt crowns his subjects with titans of Black liberation — Sun Ra, James Baldwin, Assata Shakur, a Black Panther Party member — worn as headdresses. Encompassing the broad spectrum of Black radical tradition, from Sun Ra's cosmic Afrofuturism and Baldwin's literary activism to Shakur's armed resistance and the Panthers' community organizing, the scaled figures function as protective crowns that bridge artistic, intellectual, and direct-action responding to Black oppression.
Pictured — Robert Pruitt, drawings in charcoal and pastel on paper:
"Man with Sun Ra Headdress," 2026
"Woman with Assata Shakur Headdress," 2026
"Woman with Black Panther Member Headdress," 2026
"Woman with James Baldwin Headdress," 2026
@robertpruitt
#RobertPruitt #AssataShakur #JamesBaldwin #BlackPanthers #SunRa #Salon94
COMING SOON: 5 new editions by American artist Robert Pruitt (@robertpruitt ), printed and published by Tamarind Institute.
Robert Pruitt’s latest work includes four portraits, including tenderly rendered large-scale as well as almost handheld depictions of a lone woman, a celestial couple dusted in black glitter, and a pair of figures tethered yet unbound by their past and present connection within New York’s cityscape. Together, they trace an intimate community of Black family and friends as Pruitt tells the story of a personal and layered Black power and identity.
This collection of work will premiere at the 2026 IFPDA Print Fair (@ifpda ), April 9–12. Email to [email protected] to be the first to receive the preview for early reserves.
#tamarindinstitute #robertpruitt #lithography #ifpdaprintfair
🖼️ Celebrate Black History Month with art that inspires!
Works by Black artists can be found throughout the AMFA galleries, including Robert Pruitt’s “Self Portrait”—a life-sized figurative drawing rendered with striking realism, alongside symbolic details. The portrait elicits questions of identity and representation, blending personal narrative with collective cultural memory.
Learn more about Pruitt’s work and explore other art by Black artists on a free docent-led tour this weekend:
📅 Saturday, Feb. 7, 10:30 a.m.
🎟️ Reserve tickets at the link in bio
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📸 Image courtesy of Jason Masters
🖼️ Robert Pruitt, “Self Portrait,” 2017, charcoal, conté crayon, and coffee on paper, On loan from the collection of Jackye and Curtis Finch, Jr.
Spotlight Tours are supported in part by Fleur S. Bresler.
This drawing is available as part of an online art auction in support of @theblackschool . Incredible organization run by some incredible folks. You can find the link to the auction site in their bio. Bidding closes February 6
Binars
2026
11”x 14”
Charcoal, colored pencil
![“For the occasion, Williams is wearing a Swarovski crystal mesh gown inspired by Robert Pruitt’s Venus Williams, Double Portrait (2022), a portrait of her commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery.”Robert Pruitt’s work is featured in Vogue’s coverage of the Met Gala. Venus Williams emulated the artist’s portrait of her in her look for yesterday’s event. Pruitt will be included in our presentation at the Independent fair next week in NYC!Robert Pruitt“Venus Williams, Double Portrait,” 2022Conté, charcoal, pastel, and coffee72” x 48” [HxW]Photo credit: Getty Images@robertpruitt@voguemagazine](https://sp1.picnob.com/p/pt_6739612338245045645769_0_7c171352c560910ff8fc1ae5d06a037c.jpg?o=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&h=f44651ff718d2f23527bc9fd8d525688)
