Laylah Ali addresses thought-provoking questions of race and politics through her small figurative paintings. Although seemingly simple, the works are meticulously constructed; lines are precisely drawn and color is delicately applied. Her subjects usually recall comic book characters. They are anthropomorphic beings, without discernible gender or race, who personify intense power struggles. Ali evokes childhood in this drawing by using primary colors; recognizable motifs, like red-caped oddball superheroes; and the comedic violence so commonly featured in cartoon reality.

Label from Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One: Humor and Satire from the Collection, November 19, 2016–March 19, 2017