Corporate art tends to inhabit a range from the soulless grandiosity of steel behemoths to the quirky, abstract designs of Big Tech’s paper mâché creations. Rarely, however, does it venture into the realm of the raw and unsettling. Recently, a Biglaw firm, Duane Morris, erred significantly in this regard, gravely misjudging the affective tone and context of the artwork.
Unbeknownst to the firm’s management, a painting depicting a vitally distressing scene from America’s past – an image of a lynching – was mounted on the wall of the firm’s offices. The artwork, part of a private collection owned by a retired partner, was installed by non-firm personnel after normal business hours. The disquiet that followed was profound, leading to the immediate removal of the painting the following morning once it was discovered.
The nature of this artwork reflects the struggle and pain experienced by African American artist Herbert Singleton, where he utilized his art to portray the poverty, violence, and crime he confronted growing up in the American South. While the painting is considered an important work of 20th century “Outsider Art,” the management of Duane Morris acknowledged that such a piece was disturbingly out of context for a corporate environment, regardless of individual interpretations of art and its social role. As the firm stated, “It was disturbing and painful, and it was not appropriate for display at our law firm.” Read More
Understanding the emotional severity and potential impact on staff, the firm responded swiftly. Matthew A. Taylor, the Firm Chairman and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, together with partner Joseph K. West engaged in a video call with their Black/African American personnel and Staff ERG organizations. More than 100 attorneys and staff members attended this conference, where both Taylor and West apologized on behalf of the Firm for the ill-advised act.
Hard lessons were learned from the incident, and the firm committed to ongoing introspection and growth from this event. The intention is that this incident does not reflect the firm’s values.
In closing, it is essential to consider the careful balance between the potentially transformative power of raw, intense art and the mindful selection of artwork for diverse and professional environments. As this incident demonstrates, caution and sensitivity are paramount when considering emotional context and impact on viewers.