Richard Serra’s Abu Ghraib (2004) is a stark and haunting lithograph, one of the rare abstract figurative artworks in his oeuvre, directly referencing the iconic press photograph of “The Hooded Man,” which depicts the inhumane torture of an Iraqi prisoner by the US Army. The composition, with its heavy, abstract forms and oppressive darkness, captures the vulnerability and dehumanization of the subject, transforming the photograph into a universal symbol of suffering and injustice. By reinterpreting this harrowing image, Serra’s limited edition print becomes a searing indictment of war crimes and a call to confront the moral consequences of such atrocities.

“The (…) image was made as a political poster that anyone could download. And I went on to distribute it—we made a couple hundred thousand for both the conventions and for marches and rallies. And then I went on, actually, to make a signboard on 10th Avenue. If you look at the original image, the original image is in color, the person is balanced on a box, he has a dahiki on, and it’s very, very colorful. The image is easy to almost consume as an advertisement, and I think that’s how it has been consumed. I think with all appropriation you can’t add to an image, that only devalues the image. You have to subtract from the image and try to find what its sign and symbolic value is, to turn the image in—transfigure it or mutate it. And that was my concern. My concern wasn’t aesthetic at all. My concern was completely political.” – Richard Serra at the Whitney Museum of American Art

Richard Serra, a pivotal figure in the realm of Minimalist art, emerged in the 1960s as a groundbreaking sculptor whose artwork redefined the possibilities of space, materiality, and perception. Known for his monumental, site-specific installations, Serra’s minimalist approach focuses on the fundamental qualities of sculpture, evoking powerful experiences through simplicity and physical presence. Richard Serra’s sculptures, characterized by immense scale and industrial materials like steel, assert themselves within the surrounding environment. With careful consideration of volume, weight, and mass, Serra’s geometric forms engage viewers on a bodily level, heightening their awareness of their own physicality and the spatial dynamics at play. Beyond his sculptural artworks, Richard Serra has also made significant contributions to the field of printmaking. Within the medium of print, he transfers the same minimalist principles to a two-dimensional format, embracing simplicity, abstraction, and precision. Serra’s abstract prints often feature bold, gestural marks and rich textures, exploring the relationships between positive and negative space. By employing a variety of printmaking techniques, such as etchings, lithographs, and screen prints, Richard Serra expands his artistic vocabulary and translates his sculptural sensibilities into the realm of graphic art. Serra’s minimalist sculptures and prints elicit profound experiences through their simplicity and monumental presence. Whether in three-dimensional or two-dimensional form, his artworks demand direct engagement, inviting viewers to contemplate their scale, materiality, and spatial relationships. His art has been celebrated in numerous exhibitions worldwide, including Kunstmuseum Basel (2017), Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas (2017), The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (2011), Kunsthaus Bregenz (2008) and the Museum of Modern Art in New York (2007).

Type	Limited Edition Print
Medium	Lithograph
Movement	Figurative Art, Figurative Abstraction, Contemporary Art, Post-War Art, Political Art

Richard Serra, Abu Ghraib