Forums and Panels

Cheryl Pope is an interdisciplinary visual artist who questions and responds to issues of identity as it relates to the individual and the community, specifically in regards to race, gender, class, history, power, and place. Her practice emerges from the act and politics of listening.

Pope is a Full Professor, Adjunct at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and is represented by Monique Meloche Gallery.

UP AGAINST, 2011

UP AGAINST is a compelling video installation featuring transparent, water-filled balloons suspended by chains. In a striking performance, Pope uses only her head to knock down these suspended forms, showcasing remarkable agility, endurance, and perseverance. The piece is a powerful exploration of physical resilience and the relentless pursuit of overcoming obstacles.

Jared McGriff describes his paintings as fiction about reality. A self-taught artist, he has developed a luminous and vibrating visual language that is foregrounded in a space of memory. Jared McGriff was born in Los Angeles in 1977 and lives and works in Miami. He received his BA in architecture from the College of Environmental Design at the University of California, Berkeley in 1999 and his MBA from New York University in 2008.

Left: The Practice of Self Protection at All Times, 2023 Right: A Rest Between Swings, 2023

Jared McGriff's two paintings capture a boxer in a moment of solitude amid the intensity inside the boxing ring. These paintings offer a meditative glimpse into the energy and isolation athletes experience before the lights are turned on and the cameras are rolling. McGriff's work highlights the contrast between the action and the quiet pauses, emphasizing the emotional and physical dynamics of the sport. His portrayal enriches our exploration of boxing as a stage where raw energy and personal reflection intertwine.

Rose Marie Cromwell was born in Sacramento, CA, and is based in Miami. She is a photographer and artist whose work explores the effects of globalization on the local and the tenuous space between the political and the spiritual. Cromwell makes books, creates dynamic photographic and sculptural installations, and is a filmmaker. She also collaborates with brands and media platforms to tell creative stories and share original narratives. 

PUGILISTA (boxer), 2024

Rose Marie Cromwell's PUGILISTA series offers a documentary-style glimpse into the world of female boxers in Cuba, a country with a celebrated boxing history and over 40 Olympic gold medals. With women finally allowed to compete since 2022, Cromwell's series examines the intersection of gender and the restrictive Cuban governmental setting. Her images capture the often-overlooked aspects of their training and daily lives, from makeshift arenas and worn equipment to the interstitial moments between sessions. This intimate portrayal reveals the resilience and dedication of these athletes, who train under conditions mirroring those of their males counterparts despite discrepancies in social value.