Donel Williams
The Incomprehensible Politic of Mark Making*
Opening reception: Tuesday, May 13, 6 – 9pm
Exhibition on view: May 14 – 23, 2025
Gallery hours: Wednesday – Saturday, 12 – 5pm, and by appointment by contacting donelwil@usc.edu
Roski Graduate Gallery (Los Angeles Arts District) 1262 Palmetto St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
The Incomprehensible Politic of Mark Making* is an investigation into the gesture of mark making and the often overlooked power it holds within historical and political contexts. Inspired by redacted government documents that cover up instances of violence against marginalized groups, Donel forges his own black markings over white panels. The panels partition together to create a broken signature line that extends from floor to wall, intrusively dividing the gallery in two. Movement is restricted as viewers maneuver between the floor paintings, leaving ephemeral signatures of their own. Two film performance pieces mirror each other over the dotted line, further confining the space. In these films, the artist stands behind a hung canvas and engages in the act of painting through a slit with his white-painted arm, while the rest of his body is obstructed by view. Although melancholic in nature, the artist is able to find beauty within redactions and relate them to his own studio practice, seeing the isolated markings themselves as art once the oppressive information behind them is disregarded. At the intersection of performance and painting is the realization of Donel’s existence as a mark itself, incomprehensible, yet a necessary testament to the enduring struggle of those who came before him, and guidance for those who will follow.
Curated by Megan Wong
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Donel Williams is a multidisciplinary artist based in Los Angeles, CA. He is currently an MFA candidate at USC’s Roski School of Art and Design. Utilizing painting, sculpture, video, and performance, Williams explores the lasting effects of observing his family’s struggles with aging and illness, and how these experiences manifest in both mental and physical spaces. His work has been included in group shows such as “Converge + Vertex,” at SMC’s Barrett Gallery, and a solo exhibition entitled “Memories Don’t Live Like People Do,” at Context Projects. His work was also included in the 2016 volume of Hammer Museum’s “Graphite: Interdisciplinary Journal for the Arts.”