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Collage of five diverse artworks from the Hammer Museum Collections side by side. From left to right: 1) Contemporary painting of two embracing figures with surreal elements. 2) Post-impressionist style painting of trees with vibrant blues and greens. 3) Black and white illustration of a face with intricate patterns. 4) Japanese woodblock print style image of a figure in a checkered robe. 5) Photograph of a couple dancing, the woman in a black dress and the man in white

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Digital Archive Now Dig This!: Art and Black Los Angeles 1960–1980
Art Noah Purifoy, Pressure
Pressure, by Noah Purifoy, c.1966

Noah Purifoy, Artist
Pressure , c. 1966

Medium
Assemblage sculpture
Dimensions
17 x 14 in. (43.2 x 35.6 cm)
Credit Line
Noah Purifoy Foundation; Gift of Frances and Matt Appelman. Photo by Ed Glendinning

Pressure is a mixed-media assemblage in which Purifoy surrounded a melted steel can with a chipped white frame, both objects rescued from the detritus of the Watts uprising. The white frame elevates the status of the melted steel can. Purifoy believed that another language needed to be created to describe African American art, and he provided an example for artists like John Riddle and John Outterbridge, encouraging them to use the objects of everyday life to create works that were representative of their experience.