Medium: Plastic

Date: 1987-1990

Country: France

Credit: Gift of Gloria Steinem

Patrick Kelly gave black baby brooches to friends and as fashion show favors. His partner, Bjorn Amelan believes that Kelly’s use of controversial imagery stemmed from racism he experienced while growing up. “Rather than cower and try to repress that, [Kelly found] the most effective way to deal with it was to appropriate and send back that image in an empowered way.”

Object Number: 2010.30.4