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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, Zulu #4
Zulu #4, by Noah Purifoy, n.d.

Noah Purifoy, Artist
Zulu #4 , n.d.

Medium
Mixed media and wood
Dimensions
38 1/2 x 24 3/4 x 6 1/2 in. (97.8 x 62.9 x 16.5 cm)
Credit Line
Collection of the Oakland Museum of California, Museum Donors' Acquisition Fund. Photo by Ed Glendinning

With Zulu #4, part of a larger body of work referencing Zulu culture, Noah Purifoy has employed the assemblage process to create a highly ornate, textured, and abstract low-relief sculpture. The Zulu are South Africa's largest ethnic group and suffered greatly under apartheid. Purifoy's interest in the Zulu culture can be understood as an extension of his interest in the African diaspora. The shoes "worn" by the figure are a motif seen throughout the artist's oeuvre.