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1991

Rodney King's Head Was Squashed Like a Watermelon

Joyce J. Scott

American, born 1948

African American artist Joyce Scott is famous for her innovative use of the traditional techniques of beadwork. The jewelry and larger sculptures that she makes draw upon contemporary issues for their subject matter.

The title refers to Rodney King, who, in a video-taped arrest, was beaten by Los Angeles police in 1991, inciting days of rioting in that city.

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Joyce J. Scott, Rodney King's Head Was Squashed Like a Watermelon, 1991 | Philadelphia Museum of Art