On View
On viewObject number2016.18
Kristiana
Artist
Samuel Levi Jones
(American, 1978-)
Date2015
Mediumbook remnants sewn on canvas
Dimensionscanvas: 41 × 41 × 2 1/4 in. (104.1 × 104.1 × 5.7 cm)
Credit LineElisabeth Claire Lahti Fund
Exhibition History"The Way Forward: New Acquisitions at the KIA," July 28 - December 2, 2018.
"Resilience: African American Artists as Agents of Change," at the KIA (September 14, 2019 - February 16, 2020)
"Resilience: African American Artists as Agents of Change," [Travel Version] at the Dennos Museum Center, Traverse City, MI (June 6, 2021 - August, 15, 2021)
"Unmasking Masculinity for the 21st Century: The Remix," KIA Galleries 2&5 (January 7 - March 12, 2023)
"Legendary Voices: Art for the Next Century," KIA (September 7 - February 18, 2025)Label TextKnown for his innovative approach to deconstructing and reassembling books—particularly encyclopedias and legal texts—Samuel Levi Jones examines the authority and historical practices of America’s governing institutions. His work explores how historical narratives are constructed, recorded, and sometimes distorted by those in power. By dismantling law books, symbols of power structures and governance, Jones questions the credibility and objectivity of these sources, inviting viewers to reconsider the systems that shape knowledge, history, and American society.
Kristiana reflects Jones’s ongoing explorations of the American legal system and its broader social implications. The title references Kristiana Coignard–a 17-year-old girl who, in 2015, approached a Texas police station seeking help, but was fatally shot by police officers in the station’s lobby. Jones’ practice, which intersects with art history and contemporary cultural discourse, positions the artist as a significant voice currently interrogating systems of power and influence in the United States.
[Label Text: For the People: America at 250 Exhibition, June 27 - October 4, 2026]
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The raw materials of Samuel Levi Jones's work—encyclopedias and law books—are library discards. Jones considers how these revered, authoritative texts also perpetuate cultural biases. They reinforce certain histories and “truths” while excluding other narratives. After Jones noted that African Americans were largely absent from a printed encyclopedia, he began to tear apart and rebuild the volumes into sculptural “paintings” that represented a new order—a process he called “carthartic.”
"Kristiana" is a critique of existing systems of power and authority in our society. Using discarded legal records, Jones addresses his frustration with law enforcement and the legal system. Kristiana is the name of a teenage girl who approached a Texas police station in January 2015—seeking help—and was fatally shot by officers. This work and others by Jones reference tragic incidents involving excessive use of force by police.
