Presenting Kara Walker's art: Case studies of the Studio Museum in Harlem and the Walker Art Center

Recognizing the controversial subject matter conveyed by Kara Walker's artwork, this thesis examines the differences in the framing of Walker's work when presented by museums devoted to art created by artists of African descent versus mainstream art museums. Specifically, this thesis compares the presentation of Walker's art to the public by the Studio Museum in Harlem (SMH) and the Walker Art Center (WAC). SMH is an accredited art museum that focuses on the presentation of art created by people of African descent. WAC is a multidisciplinary contemporary art museum that presents art across the spectrum of race, ethnicity, age and discipline. In addition to comparing these two art institutions, this thesis also offers suggestions for how to present Walker's controversial art and create an environment that encourages dialogue about artistic intent, identity and audience reception.