The Observer

The RISD Museum Presents

Khalil McKnight: The Observer

March 29, 2026 – May 14, 2026

In this performance, artist Khalil McKnight (RISD BFA 2027, Painting) wears a garment made from repurposed black hoodies inspired by Egungun and New Orleans Masquerade culture. Silently walking galleries in the role of a visitor while making written assessments of the historical paintings on view, The Observer critically examines institutional access and the relationship of Black and Brown bodies to museum spaces.

"There’s a saying in the south, “a fly in milk”. It means to be both Black and out of place: to stand out. If The Observer were to walk the streets of New Orleans or Trinidad and Tobago, I would be welcomed a Moko Jumbie or Black Mask Indian. My standing here is important because when painting these portraits, their creators didn’t have my body in mind."