Future Exhibitions

Strand Gallery
January 11 - March 30, 2025

Vitus Shell
Study Long, Study Wrong

Vitus Shell’s mixed media collage paintings portray the Black experience and give agency to the people from his community through powerful images deconstructing, sampling, and remixing identity, civil rights, and contemporary Black culture. His exhibition title, Study Long, Study Wrong, quotes the late Texas rapper Pimp C, known for his provocative lyrics and stylish wardrobe, who declared, “If you study long, you study wrong.” This mantra is often repeated during lively games of dominoes as a reminder to keep the game moving and not overthink every move. Shell invokes this slogan to challenge the self-doubt imposed by the systemic oppression of individuals through the American education system and their depictions in media. In order to overcome second-guessing oneself, Shell’s work embodies the power of personal agency and emphasizes the importance of simply being. For Shell, “learning about oneself and the community’s history, individuals can unlock a deeper understanding of our existence and embrace our inherent value.”

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