Adrian Piper and Identity

• How does Adrian Piper explore Identity? 

Piper explores identity through her artwork by investigating race and gender. People often include traits like race and gender when describing their identity. These traits play a role in who we are as people and in society. Piper questions the viewer about how she, as a black and white woman in America, is treated in society. People often confuse her for just a white woman, and do not realize she is also black. Piper is both white and black, however she is neither white or black alone because she cannot identify as one over the other. She has multiple identities which ultimately leads to her investigation of identity through her artwork. Piper makes a stand against racism and sexism, attempting to help the general public become less biased by engaging with her works (Berger, 1998).

• Why does she explore Identity?

Piper explores identity because it has personal meaning to her.  Throughout her life she has noticed that people have treated her very differently depending upon what they perceived her race and sex to be.  An example of this can be seen in her performance pieces “My Calling Card.” Piper was often mistaken as only a white woman and people do not recognize she is also black. She observed people making racist comments because they did not perceive her as black. These issues directly and indirectly influence her and how she fits into society, what “groups” she is put in. She wants to make a statement about her identity in hopes to change how people view different groups of people. If people change how they view others, this world would be a much more positive place to live (Bowles, 2011).

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