concept:era contemporary
The Holy Virgin Mary
Mixed media on canvas (1996) by Chris Ofili. Museum of Modern Art, Brisbane (QAGOMA). A Black Madonna composed from collaged magazine pornography images, with a painted elephant-dung breast. The Sensation exhibition (Brooklyn Museum, 1999) triggered Mayor Giuliani's censorship attempt.
Scholarly Significance
Primary case study for political censorship in contemporary art. Brooklyn Museum controversy (1999) involved a sitting mayor threatening to defund a museum.