Derrick Adams – Mirroring Idealism

Mirroring Idealism, 2021

• Artist: Derrick Adams (American, born 1970)
• Medium: UV curable pigment in colors on mirror dibond wall relief
• Dimensions (overall): 718 × 1362 × 76 mm (28 1/4 × 53 5/8 × 3 in)
•  Edition: 40 (numbered on accompanying label) 
• Publisher: Co-published by Carolina Nitsch Contemporary Art and Elisabeth Wingate, New York Executed: 2021
• Provenance: Accompanied by label and certificate of authenticity
• Framed: No

Mirroring Idealism is a UV curable pigment wall relief on mirror dibond, executed in 2021 and co-published by Carolina Nitsch Contemporary Art and Elisabeth Wingate, New York. This example is from the edition of 40, as indicated on the accompanying label, and is presented with its certificate of authenticity. The work is in generally very good condition.

The work exemplifies the vibrant, culturally resonant, and formally innovative visual language of Derrick Adams, one of the most significant and widely exhibited American artists of his generation. Working across painting, collage, sculpture, performance, and mixed media, Adams has built a practice centered on the representation of Black leisure, joy, interiority, and aspirational life — a body of work that reclaims and celebrates the full complexity of Black American experience with warmth, wit, and formal sophistication. His work has been described as a visual archive of Black life and culture, drawing on a rich range of sources including pop culture, fashion, architecture, and the visual language of modernism.

In Mirroring Idealism, Adams deploys the reflective properties of mirror dibond — a premium aluminum composite with a mirrored surface — as both a material and conceptual strategy. The UV curable pigment, applied in vivid colors directly onto the mirror surface, creates a dynamic interplay between the printed image and its reflective ground — the viewer's own reflection merging with and becoming part of the composition. This deliberate activation of the viewer's presence within the work gives Mirroring Idealism a participatory dimension that deepens its central theme — the act of mirroring as a metaphor for self-recognition, aspiration, and the construction of identity. The monumental horizontal format, at over 1.3 meters wide, further amplifies the work's immersive physical and psychological impact.

Co-published by Carolina Nitsch Contemporary Art — one of New York's most respected print and edition publishers, known for working with artists including Cindy Sherman, Kara Walker, and Julie Mehretu — and Elisabeth Wingate, this edition carries an impeccable institutional and production pedigree. Works published by Carolina Nitsch are held in major private and institutional collections worldwide.

Accompanied by the original label and certificate of authenticity, the work is in generally very good condition.

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FAQ

Is this an original work by Derrick Adams? Yes. Mirroring Idealism is an authentic limited edition work, on the accompanying label, and presented with its certificate of authenticity.

What technique was used? The work uses UV curable pigment in colors applied directly onto mirror dibond — a premium aluminum composite with a mirrored surface. This process produces exceptional chromatic vibrancy and archival stability while creating a dynamic interplay between the printed image and the reflective ground.

What is mirror dibond? Mirror dibond is a high-quality aluminum composite material with a mirrored surface finish, widely used in contemporary art production for its exceptional flatness, durability, and reflective properties. It provides both a premium support for high-resolution UV printing and a conceptually active surface that engages the viewer's own reflection within the composition.

Is the artwork signed? The work is numbered on the accompanying label and presented with a certificate of authenticity — the recognized form of authentication for this edition.

What is the edition size? The work was produced in a limited edition of 40.

What are the dimensions of the piece? Overall: 718 × 1362 × 76 mm (28 1/4 × 53 5/8 × 3 in)

Does the work come with documentation? Yes. This example is accompanied by the original label and certificate of authenticity.

Is the artwork framed? No. The work is a wall relief presented unframed, designed for direct wall installation.

What is the condition of the work? Generally very good condition. Full condition report available upon request.