EBONY G. PATTERSON | ...bearing witness...

This work is in excellent condition overall. The surface texture irregularities, particularly noticeable in the hand-knotted threads, are consistent with the artist's choice of medium and working method. Unframed.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

...bearing witness... is from the P.4 Limited Edition Series produced by Prospect New Orleans in honor of Prospect 4: The Lotus in Spite of the Swamp.  Patterson’s multilayered work employs the opulence of its hand-embellished surface to seduce the viewer into confronting social realities. Indeed, a powerful message exists beneath the ornate web of threading and rhinestones that makes up the work’s large-scale composition, a call to action partially obscured, but no less clear: “See Me”. With this, the artist commands the viewer to look past the façade – of the work’s rich formal characteristics, of the fabricated fantasies increasingly traded in our consumer and social media-centric culture – and to acknowledge the realities of those not touched by the glitter and gold. Patterson’s aesthetic pulls the viewer in and forces them to bear witness to the violence and social injustices imposed upon those deemed invisible. The paradoxical means the artist uses to convey this message only emphasizes its urgency and weight.