Downtown, Los Angeles
Y. Malik Jalal
Pallbearer
MurmursMurmurs is pleased to present Pallbearer, a solo exhibition by Y. Malik Jalal. This new body of work continues Jalal’s exploration of interiors and the tensions between domestic and vehicular space. For this exhibition, he turns toward fantasy, the poetics of ruin, and the economy of loss, drawing from the material languages of junkyards and found photography. This marks the artist’s first solo exhibition with the gallery. Y. Malik Jalal (b. 1994, Savannah, Georgia) utilizes traditional craft and collage techniques to explore themes of Black history, power and humanity. By merging materials like steel and iron with an index of found photos depicting Black American family life in unexpected and intimate moments, he addresses the transformation of industries and inequalities, referencing both the legacy of metal artisans in the South and pop culture. His work combines African customs with violent American events, incorporating symbols from advertising and Black horror to reflect collective anxiety. Influenced by Islam, Christianity, and Spiritualism, Jalal’s art forms a multifaceted expression of Blackness, drawing from diverse perspectives and critiquing societal norms. Y. Malik Jalal lives and works between New York and Atlanta, Georgia. He earned his MFA from Yale University in 2024 and his BA from Oglethorpe University in 2016. Recent exhibitions include March, New York, NY (2024), April in Paris, Amsterdam, Netherlands (2024), Jack Barrett, New York, NY (2024), Yossi Milo, New York, NY (2023), et al., San Francisco, CA (2023), Coleman Art Center, York, AL (2021), Institute 193, Lexington, KY (2021), Alabama Contemporary Art Center, Mobile, AL (2021), among others. Jalal has curated group exhibitions at The Hi-Lo Press and the High Rise Exhibition.