HomeEVENTSART EVENTSJoel Daniel Phillips -...

Joel Daniel Phillips – A Solo Exhibition: Killing the Negative, October 17th-November 7th 2020

NEW YORK CITY – Hashimoto Contemporary is pleased to present Killing the Negative, a solo exhibition by Tulsa, OK-based artist, Joel Daniel Phillips.
Consisting of a new series of charcoal and graphite drawings meditating on
Government-censored photographs by the Farm Security Administration
(FSA) during the Great Depression, the exhibition is Phillips’ fifth solo exhibition with the gallery and his debut New York solo exhibition.


In early 2019, Phillips’ stumbled on a photograph by Walker Evans with a giant, black, Baldessari-esque circle marring the center of the image. The black void wasn’t an addition to the image, but rather a subtraction: Someone had taken a hole punch to the original negative.


Phillip’s work centers around questions of truth, historical amnesia, and the veracity of the stories we tell ourselves about our collective pasts. The broader FSA images are of course, well known, and images such as
“Migrant Mother” by Dorothea Lange have become some of the most recognizable and important images in the American photographic lexicon. Less known, however, is the process by which these images were selected for publication: Roy Stryker was the head of the FSA, and was tasked with deciding which of the eventual 145,000 commissioned photographs would see the light of day. For the first 4 years of the project, many images he deemed unworthy were “killed” by punching a hole in the original negative.


Killing the Negative explores Stryker’s destructive editing process as a commentary on truth and the veracity of the historical record. His enormous act of editing bears more import than we know to our understanding of our history. It calls into question our reliance on this record, bringing into startling clarity the power that a
single individual had to shape the collective understanding of an entire nation. When translated into drawings, the physical subtraction created by the hole-punch acts as a further visual addition, an indelible record
of the shaping of the narrative, with the black, circular void both destroying the original image and simultaneously creating an entirely new one.


The larger contemporary political conversation is one that makes many of the questions from the era of the Great Depression deeply resonant; questions of race, class, labor and compensation, land ownership, stratified socio-economics and ecological protection are embedded in the original censored FSA photographs. These almost 100-year-old images are astonishingly contemporary in nature, and when recontextualized as a series of drawings, call into question our assumptions about the truth of our collective past, while simultaneously reflecting on the fabricated foundations of historical narratives in the modern political sphere.

The gallery will be open by appointment only. In order to ensure the health and safety of visitors and staff, please note that masks are legally required for entry. To schedule an appointment, please click HERE.

Other Relevant Links


Hashimoto Contemporary
Joel Daniel Phillips’s Website


About the Artist

Joel Daniel Phillips is an American artist whose work focuses on the tenets of classical draftsmanship employed in monumental formats. Inspired by the depth and breadth of human experience, he strives to tell the personal and societal histories etched in the world around him. The focus of his work centers on questions of truth, historical amnesia, and the veracity of the stories we tell ourselves within our communal narrative and our collective pasts. The drawings are re-contextualizations of archival historical material, and walk the line between describing a shared, forgotten history and prophesying a terrifying, Orwellian future.


Phillips’ work has been exhibited at institutions and galleries across the United States as well as abroad, including the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Philbrook Museum of Art, Tacoma Art Museum, The Art
Museum of South Texas, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Gilcrease Museum of Art, and the Ackland Art Museum, among others. In 2016 he was the 3rd prize recipient in the triennial Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition
from the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and in 2019 he was again a finalist for the same prize. The artist is currently a Fellow at the Tulsa Artist Fellowship in Tulsa, Oklahoma.


Phillips’ drawings can be found in the public collections of the Ackland Art Museum, the Urban Nation Museum For Urban Contemporary Art, the West Collection, the Gilcrease Museum, the Fort Wayne Museum of
Art and the Denver Art Museum.

About the Gallery

Hashimoto Contemporary is located in San Francisco, CA and New York, NY. Our roster consists of an eclectic blend of new contemporary artists. With monthly rotating exhibitions, our programming focuses on a
range of painting, sculpture and installation-based work. You can also visit us at a variety of international art fairs in Miami, New York, London, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

- A word from our sponsors -

spot_img

Most Popular

More from Author

Top Facial Cleansers for Men with Sensitive Skin

Men with sensitive skin often face a tough challenge when it...

Beauty Tips for Clear Skin Before Wedding

Your wedding day is one of the most photographed and memorable...

How to Get Rid of Back Acne Scars Fast

Back acne scars can be frustrating, especially when they affect your...

How to Clean Makeup Brushes with Household Items

Cleaning your makeup brushes regularly is essential not only for your...

- A word from our sponsors -

spot_img

Read Now

Top Facial Cleansers for Men with Sensitive Skin

Men with sensitive skin often face a tough challenge when it comes to choosing the right facial cleanser. The wrong product can cause redness, irritation, and breakouts, making it essential to choose a cleanser that's gentle, effective, and specifically formulated for sensitive skin types. In this guide, we’ll...

Beauty Tips for Clear Skin Before Wedding

Your wedding day is one of the most photographed and memorable moments of your life, and naturally, you want your skin to look flawless, glowing, and healthy. Achieving clear skin before your wedding doesn’t require miracle products—it takes consistency, preparation, and smart skincare choices. Whether you're months away...

How to Get Rid of Back Acne Scars Fast

Back acne scars can be frustrating, especially when they affect your confidence and appearance. Whether caused by hormonal changes, clogged pores, or friction from clothing, these scars can linger long after the acne has cleared. Fortunately, there are fast and effective ways to reduce or eliminate back...

How to Clean Makeup Brushes with Household Items

Cleaning your makeup brushes regularly is essential not only for your skin’s health but also for preserving the life of your tools. Dirty brushes can harbor bacteria, old makeup, oil, and dead skin cells, all of which can contribute to clogged pores, breakouts, and patchy makeup application....

Top 10 Beauty Supplements for Skin and Hair

Maintaining healthy, radiant skin and strong, lustrous hair goes beyond topical care. Nutrition plays a crucial role in enhancing the appearance and vitality of your skin and hair from within. Beauty supplements, formulated with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, have gained popularity as an effective way to...

Natural Ways to Tighten Sagging Skin on Face

As we age, the skin on our face naturally loses elasticity and firmness due to decreased collagen and elastin production. While this is a natural part of aging, many people seek gentle, non-invasive solutions to maintain a youthful appearance. The good news is, you don’t always need...

Best Non-Comedogenic Moisturizers for Summer

Summer can be tough on your skin—heat, humidity, sweat, and excess oil all contribute to clogged pores and unwanted breakouts. That’s why switching to non-comedogenic moisturizers is a smart move. These lightweight formulas hydrate your skin without blocking your pores, making them ideal for all skin types—especially...

Cruelty-Free Makeup Brands Available in India

As awareness around ethical beauty grows, more consumers in India are choosing cruelty-free makeup brands—products developed without animal testing and often formulated with natural, sustainable ingredients. Switching to cruelty-free cosmetics supports animal welfare and encourages more responsible manufacturing practices. If you’re in India and want to embrace ethical...

How to Fix Cakey Makeup Throughout the Day

Cakey makeup can be one of the most frustrating challenges for anyone wanting a flawless look that lasts all day. Whether it’s foundation settling into fine lines, powders appearing dry and patchy, or concealer flaking off, cakey makeup can quickly ruin your confidence and overall appearance. Fortunately, with...

Long-Lasting Waterproof Mascaras for Humid Weather

Humidity can wreak havoc on makeup—especially mascara. Whether you're commuting to work, heading to the gym, or spending the day outdoors, the last thing you want is smudged, melted, or raccoon-like eyes. That’s where long-lasting waterproof mascaras come in. Formulated to resist water, sweat, and humidity, waterproof mascaras...

Daily Skincare Routine for Teenage Boys

Teenage years can be challenging when it comes to skincare. Hormonal changes lead to oilier skin, acne breakouts, and other common skin issues. Developing a proper skincare routine early on can help teenage boys maintain healthy skin, prevent acne, and build lifelong habits. This guide breaks down...

How to Contour a Round Face for Beginners

Contouring is a makeup technique that uses light and dark shades to define and sculpt the face. For those with round faces, contouring can help add definition, enhance cheekbones, and create the illusion of a more oval or elongated shape. If you're a beginner, learning how to...