This year-long, multi-gallery installation places the work of contemporary artist Shinique Smith (American, b. 1971) in direct dialogue with historic European art, a first in Smith’s career. Several of her large-scale sculptures, along with smaller works, will be displayed in the permanent collection galleries of the Museum of Art. Parade speaks to the European artistic tradition revealing the universality of human experience explored by artists throughout time while also foregrounding notions of Black femininity and the history of the circus.

Shinique Smith: Parade is generously supported by the Ellin Family Art of Our Time Endowment Fund and the Ringling Museum General Development Fund. It is paid for in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax revenues and by the Florida Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture.

Available Now

The Ringling’s latest publication, Shinique Smith: PARADE, is now available exclusively in the Museum Store. Magnificently illustrated with dozens of installation images in full color, this hardcover volume accompanies the exhibition of the same title, which was on view from December 16, 2023, through January 5, 2025. PARADE marked the first time that Shinique Smith exhibited her work within a museum collection of historic European art and the first time that The Ringling featured the work of a Black woman artist in direct dialogue with its collection of European art. The publication beautifully captures the conversation between Smith’s sculptural work and the permanent collection of European art.

Produced by Goosepen Studio & Press, this impressive book contains essays by Shinique Smith and Sarah Cartwright, The Ringling’s Chief Curator and Ulla R. Searing Curator of Collections, as well as an illustrated checklist of Smith’s works together with the labels she wrote for the exhibition. As a record of this historic moment at The Ringling, and an important contribution to the literature on Shinique Smith, this volume ensures that PARADE will be remembered for many years to come.