Rufus Snoddy is an American artist currently established in Traverse City, Michigan. His paintings, sculptures and installations use sundry materials, tree branches and construction debris, emphasizing a concern for texture and an intent to give order to chaos. Rufus further explains “Conceptually, I have a continuing dialogue about illusion and perception, given impetus by the textural content of living in the United States of America as a Black male.” 

In his exhibition, Ode to Democracy, Long Live the Kings, the artist challenges us to not be too comfortable in our democratic society, posing illusory images, often tongue-in-cheek, to provoke dialog. The exhibition was inspired by a poem written in 1998 by Robynn James, "Ode to Democracy, Long Live the Kings."  To read her poem, click here. (Used with permission from the author.)