The idea that jewelry can be both beautiful and confrontational may seem like a paradox, but Joyce J. Scott, the “Queen of Beadwork,” from Baltimore, makes it so. At once joyful and satirical, each piece is a unique sculpture that tells a story or offers a commentary on the challenges of life, as well as what it means to be Black in America.  

Joyce J. Scott: Messages features historic and contemporary examples of the artist’s practice, each transforming a rich tradition of beadwork. Most of Scott’s necklaces and sculptures communicate her activism and sense of social justice. Drawing viewers in through buoyant color and humor, she presents difficult themes such as racial equity, violence against women, and politics, pushing the boundaries of the medium not only through her technique but through her narratives and messages.