Derek Fordjour (b. 1974, Memphis, Tennessee) is a celebrated artist known for his layered paintings, sculptures, and installations that explore cultural rituals, social gatherings, and the complexities of Black life in the United States. Using materials like cardboard and newspaper as textured bases, Fordjour creates dynamic compositions featuring athletes, performers, and revelers. His works balance celebration and lamentation, offering poignant reflections on both joy and inequality.
Fordjour has exhibited globally, including solo shows at the Pond Society in Shanghai (2021) and the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (2020). He has been featured in recent major group exhibitions at institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art (20242025), SFMOMA (2024) and the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia (2023-2024). His monumental installation Sonic Boom was commissioned by MOCA Los Angeles in 2022. His art is held in prestigious collections, including the Whitney Museum, LACMA, the Pérez Art Museum Miami and the Studio Museum in Harlem.
In addition to his artistic practice, Fordjour has served as the 2020 Alex Katz Chair of Painting at Cooper Union and is currently a core critic at Yale University's School of Art. He lives and works in New York.