Object Details
- Artist
- Tim Rollins and K.O.S., founded New York City 1982
- Tim Rollins, born Pittsfield, ME 1955-died New York City 2017
- Gallery Label
- Black diagonal lines intersect at multiple points to form the letter M and three X's. Pages from The Autobiography of Malcolm X cover the surface of the canvas like wallpaper.
- Artist Tim Rollins formed K.O.S. (Kids of Survival) in the 1980s with a group of high school students in the South Bronx. Many of their collaborations are inspired by literary classics. Published in 1965, months after the human rights activist's assassination, The Autobiography of Malcolm X has sold millions of copies and influenced generations of readers.
- This artwork's title comes from a refrain often found in Malcolm X's speeches:
- We want freedom by any means necessary.
- We want justice by any means necessary.
- We want equality by any means necessary.
- Credit Line
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment
- Copyright
- © 2008, Tim Rollin and K.O.S.
- 2008
- Object number
- 2010.18
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- Painting
- Medium
- matte acrylic and book pages on canvas
- Dimensions
- 72 x 72 in. (182.9 x 182.9 cm)
- See more items in
- Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
- Department
- Painting and Sculpture
- On View
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, 3rd Floor, East Wing
- Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Topic
- History\United States\Civil Rights Movement
- Object\written matter\book
- History\United States\Black History\Malcolm X
- Record ID
- saam_2010.18
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7eb6b21d3-aad1-483c-8f47-25af62a2eda8
