LaQuincey Reed

LaQuincey Reed is an artist and Elected Member of the National Sculpture Society based in Oklahoma City. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BFA in studio art and, after graduation, worked as a sculptor assistant on the Oklahoma Land Run monument. He has been commissioned to complete works for the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Baptist University, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Cleveland County Courthouse, Oklahoma State Capitol, and other institutions. He exhibits his artwork across the country. His work was part of Brookgreen Gardens' exhibit on Emerging Stars in American Sculpture and he was selected for the Skirvin Hilton Hotel and Paseo Arts Association Artist in Residence SPACE program.

The history of Black cowboys in the American West is a rich and often overlooked chapter in the narrative of the frontier. Contrary to popular depictions, African Americans played significant roles in cattle ranching and trail driving throughout the 19th century. Black cowboys contributed immensely to the development of the West, participating in cattle drives, rodeos, and ranching operations. Their resilience and contributions challenge traditional narratives of the American West and underscore the diversity and complexity of its history.

While the presence of Black cowboys in the "old" West has finally begun to be approached in Western art, Reed's depiction of contemporary Black youth in the genre is truly groundbreaking. In an analysis of Reed's work by Chadd Scott, contributing writer for Forbes Magazine, he writes, "This work represents a dramatic departure from anything that has come before, it should bypass private collectors and go straight into museums for wide public appreciation." Scott goes onto to claim that Reed's sculptures should be included in collections alongside those of C.M. Russell and Frederic Remington, allowing for curatorial experimentation and the discovery of an expanding Western narrative.

"The stunning originality of a Black teenager in a Kobe Bryant jersey with a cowboy hat hoisting a saddle from his hip proves bracing. This imagery is completely new to art," Scott said. Reed's innovative works in bronze provide unique opportunities for sharing stories of people who defy racial stereotypes.