Los Angeles is a city known for its culture and museums. Los Angeles-based artist Umar Rashid, also known as Frohawk Two Feathers, has captivated audiences for over two decades with his intricate reimagining of history. Through his work, Rashid builds alternative historical timeframes that challenge the conventional stories of empire, power, and colonialism.
His latest exhibition at Blum Gallery in Los Angeles is titled The Kingdom of Two Californias. The show extends his ongoing exploration of the fictional Frenglish Empire. This imaginative superpower blends elements of French and British imperialism and forms the backdrop for Rashid’s complex and episodic tales.
A Collision of Time and Space
The Kingdom of Two Californias continues Rashid’s tradition of collapsing time, geography, and culture into a cohesive narrative. The exhibition features sculptural installations and painted tableaux that blend historical references with fantastical elements. For example, one piece depicts the “explosive Battle of Los Cabos,” where Frenglish conquerors clash along the coastline from San Francisco to Baja.
Rashid’s work never shies away from the absurd. A case in point is a tableau in which 19th-century Northern Californians battle a colonial fur trapper—only to witness their target abducted by a spaceship.
“History is more than a linear tale,” Rashid insists. “I want people to see the layers, the contradictions, and the humanity behind the stories we tell ourselves.”
Art as a Revisionist Lens
Rashid’s work challenges traditional notions of empire and colonialism. He succeeds by weaving together elements of African cosmology, Egyptian hieroglyphs, hip-hop culture, Persian miniature painting, and Native American ledger art.
At Blum, Rashid imagines the struggles and resilience of the colonizers and the colonized. The result? An expansion of his exploration of the Frenglish Empire’s fictional rule. Rather than try to romanticize the past, Rashid offers a critical and often humorous take on the legacies of imperialism.
The Artist’s Journey
Born in Chicago in 1976, Rashid earned his BA from Southern Illinois University in 2000 and currently resides in Los Angeles. His career has spanned continents and mediums, with exhibitions in venues such as MoMA PS1 in New York, the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, and the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art in Cape Town. Rashid’s work resides in prestigious collections worldwide, including the Brooklyn Museum and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.
Rashid explains how his art attempts to dream up fresh takes on some of history’s most compelling—and complicated—stories: “Storytelling is at the heart of what I do. I use history as my canvas, but I add my own twist, my own truth.”
A Parallel Universe of Meaning
Rashid’s art bridges the real and imagined in The Kingdom of Two Californias. His goal? To invite viewers to question the narratives they typically accept as truth. He uses maps, flags, and artifacts to evoke the material culture of the empire while injecting elements of modernity and fantasy.
The exhibition challenges visitors to see beyond the surface and consider how power dynamics and cultural intersections shape history. “This work is about reclaiming space,” Rashid explains. “It’s about asking who gets to tell the story and why.”
A Testament to Creativity
Rahid’s work at Blum is a testament to his gift for blending art, history, and social critique. He constructs a vivid, alternate reality and then pushes the boundaries of historical interpretation by inviting audiences to imagine new possibilities.
For those eager to explore a world where art, history, and imagination collide, The Kingdom of Two Californias offers an unforgettable journey. Umar Rashid’s visionary approach continues redefining art’s role in challenging and reshaping historical narratives.
